Atiku’s Comment On Northernising Presidency As Threat To Nigeria’s Unity-Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the ethnic card the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is alleged to be playing is most disturbing.

Governor Wike was reacting to recent comment credited to Alhaji who said that what the Northerners need is someone from the north as the next president of Nigeria.

Over the weekend, Governor Wike had traveled to Spain with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Governor Okeize Ikpeazu of Abia State for an important assignment.

They all returned back to Nigeria Mondays morning and Governor Wike spoke to journalists at the International Wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Governor Wike said if it is true comments credited to Alhaji Atiku that in 2023 northerners need someone from the North, and not an Igbo or Yoruba person then it is most an inconveniencing statement at a time that the unity of Nigeria is paramount.

According to governor Wike such comment goes to confirm why he and his supporters are hell bent on the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu in order to allow for inclusivity in the party.

He wondered why the handlers of the PDP presidential candidate will allow him make such statement and said if Alhaji Atiku truly made the statement, then the PDP should apologize to Nigerians.

Governor Wike also maintained that  the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ayu collected One Billion Naira from a PDP presidential aspirant in Lagos State, One Hundred Million Naira from a PDP governor to renovate the party’s democratic institute and later collected same amount from the PDP National Working Committee for the same purpose.

The Governor inferred that a critical examination of Ayu’s denial shows his acceptance of the accusations.

Governor Wike challenged him to show proof of the account into which the One Hundred Million Naira he collected from the PDP Governor was paid into and the notes of minutes of the NWC meeting where his notification to members about the money was captured.

Governor Wike also described as ridiculous the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) recommendation that Senator Ayu should assure party members and Nigerians that he will resign his position after the 2023 general elections.

The governor said a man who has not kept his initial promise of resigning his office if a northerner emerged as the presidential candidate of the party may not also resign after the 2023 elections.