Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State says the 2023 general election has shown that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, is irrelevant to the party for failing to deliver his state, Benue for the PDP.
Wike said Ayu has brought no political value to the party, insisting that he’ll not leave PDP for Ayu and his allies.
Speaking during a media chat with select journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Wike said Ayu Ayu lost his polling unit, his ward and senatorial district for PDP in Benue State.
“What can the National Chairman tell me now when he could not deliver his state? He could not deliver his polling unit?” he queried.
“A small circle of people, you can’t control them. You lost and you say you are the National Chairman. If you have lost it in our states, it is the states that will make the ‘national’ thick. Without the state, you can’t be strong.”
Wike noted that he ensured that PDP won all Senatorial districts in Rivers State.
According to him: “Rivers is PDP. The governorship and national assembly members are PDP. Ayu lost his polling unit. I won three senatorial seats, 32 house of Assembly seats. He didn’t get anything.
“Babangida Aliyu did not win. So who is the betrayer? We won to make sure PDP exist. Of what relevance is he as national chairman? He couldn’t deliver his polling unit.
“Mention one state that PDP did what Rivers State did, who loves PDP more? I am saying the NWC must do the right thing. I cannot leave this party. Ayu left and came back.”
During the interview, Wike denied working against the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi in the 25 February presidential poll.
61-year-Obi, who, in less than a year, galvanised young voters in a manner some have described as unprecedented finished the race with 6,101,533.
Following Obi’s loss to Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigerian youths have accused Wike of betraying the former Anambra State Governor.
But the governor stated that it is unfortunate that Obi claimed he stood against him during last month’s presidential election, describing the LP candidate as being ungrateful.
Wike also recalled how he picked him to be the running mate to Atiku in the 2019 general elections, even against the wish of some notable PDP chieftains.
He added, “I take exception to Peter Obi’s comments that I came out against him. People are not being sincere, people are not appreciative,” he stated.
“In 2019, ask Peter Obi, I was one of the teams that chose Obi to be the Vice Presidential candidate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. When we met at Abubakar’s house, he said these are the names, I will choose Obi.
“Obi was invited while we were at Saraki’s house in the night. I was fought by people like Ekweremadu, Umahi, and Pius Anyim. Every blame was on me, why will I be the one that will say Peter Obi should go?”
Wike has been against Ayu occupying the seat of the PDP National Chairman.
The governor had called for Ayu’s removal following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate.
