March 22, (THEWILL) – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has denied allegations that he worked against Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the February 25 election.
Speaking on Wednesday, during a live media chat in Port Harcourt, Wike insisted that the G-5 governors did not endorse the former Anambra Governor, adding that members of the integrity group only reached an agreement to ensure the emergence of a Southern President.
“There was never a time the integrity Group met and said it must be this person. We only agreed on southern President. We formulated strategies and the southern President emerged. Our interest is that a southern President should emerge.
“When we went to our meeting, we decided on southern President. We didn’t say it must be this. We said whatever you are doing it must be southern President. The aim of G5 was equity, fairness and justice,” he said.
Wike faulted claims that he rigged Rivers State polls to favour his preferred candidates at the Presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections.
He said Rivers voted for the unity of Nigeria by voting for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu, at the presidential poll.
“I never told Rivers people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu but for the Unity of Nigeria. As far as Rivers State is concerned, it was a power shift to the South. And there are two candidates from the South, Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, so If the majority of Rivers People decided to vote for Tinubu and others for Peter Obi, that tells you the decision of the citizens.
“How can you talk about me rigging the election? I don’t work as ad-hoc staff for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), so I am not in the place to rig elections for anybody. When you have INEC’s materials, you can talk about rigging.
“But, I take exemption to Peter Obi’s comment that I came out against him, people are not being sincere and appreciative. In 2019, I was among the people, who chose Peter Obi for Atiku Abubakar.
“I was faulted for the choice, people like Ike Ekweremadu and my friend, the Governor of Ebonyi State and Pius Ayim. Every blame was on me; that why would I be the one to choose for the South East? Did he come out to say I supported him?
“I told Nigerians I will support a South candidate in the Presidential Election.
“When Peter Obi said I was against him, it is unfortunate because nobody ever told me that I campaigned against him. It is incorrect to say I was against him.
“I told my people to support a southern candidate, which they did; the first position in Rivers State during the poll was a south candidate, same with the second position,” he said.
Wike said some of the G-5 governors including Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Victor Ikpeazu of Abia, made huge sacrifices to ensure the emergence of a southern President.
“Ortom said even if he loses his senatorial election, let equity, justice and fairness prevail. He may not gain it now. But history will be kind to him. Same applies to Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu. Even Makinde said even if he lost his governorship ambition, he was interested in the unity of Nigeria,” he added.
