The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, claims the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) G5 or Integrity Group is not losing pace, and that the group will carry out its strategy in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
He made the remarks on Tuesday during the party’s governorship campaign in the state’s Ahoada East Local Government Area.
“They said G5 is dead. What is their problem? Why are they concerned?” Wike enquired as he greeted PDP supporters decked out in party garb.
The G5 is made up of five PDP governors from southern Nigeria who are dissatisfied with the party’s leadership, including Wike, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).G5
The five governors have been constant in their demand that Iyorchia Ayu resign as PDP national chairman as a condition for them to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Recently, the five governors who are known to embark on international travels and solidarity campaigns in their respective states have not been seen together in public. The news prompted speculation that their cooperation was no longer effective.
However, Wike stated on Tuesday that the G5 will act on the D-day next week.
“They don’t know there is a time to talk and there is a time to take action in politics. The action is on February 25. They can’t know our plans even if they push us. The more you look, the less you see,” he said.
“None of the vultures can withstand me and talk. Nobody can sell Rivers State for a pot of porridge.”
In response to the cancellation of Atiku’s presidential rally in Rivers, the governor stated that the PDP at the national level has never liked the state in the first place.
Wike said, “When they said they cancelled the rally, it is a lie; they don’t want to tell us that they can’t mobilise. In any case, PDP hasn’t told us that they love Rivers State.
“We had a problem here; heavy flood that occupied our houses. Did anybody whether the PDP (presidential) candidate or any leadership of the party, did they come to sympathise with us? But they went to Bayelsa, went to Delta. They showed us they don’t love us. No problem but our destiny is in our hands. Nobody can force us to anything.”
According to the former minister, Atiku’s team’s explanation of insecurity for canceling the event is untenable. Wike contended that the presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, both campaigned in Rivers without being attacked.
“Peter Obi came, I gave him vehicles, he campaigned and left, nothing happened to him. Kwankwaso came here, I gave him vehicles, he campaigned and nothing happened to him. APC has applied and I have given them stadium; if them want vehicles from me, I will give them. But your party (PDP) said there is insecurity in Rivers,” he said.
