THE Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike, has warned that infighting would spell doom for the PDP in the 2023 general elections. He said on Tuesday that the party leaders should be working at the grassroots across the states instead of rushing to Abuja with rumours ‘’to a certain candidate.’’
Speaking during the inauguration of the Government VIP Lounge in Omagwa in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, Wike lamented that some Rivers politicians are currently in Abuja carrying rumours and gossip about him to a certain candidate.
He said they ought to be in the state working ahead of the 2023 general elections while pointing out that those who could deliver their unit, ward, local government area and state would soon be known.
The governor stated that the projects being inaugurated and those being flagged off are what would be used to campaign to the people during the election.
He stated, “These are things we will use to tell the people… see why you should vote for us. It is not gossip. It is not by appearing on Channels television or Arise (tv) that will help you to win an election. It is what you have done, the report card you have that will sell our candidates.
“So, I think a party that needs to win an election cannot on their own cause problems for themselves, carrying rumours when there is nothing. When you wake up, every newspaper says ‘Wike’s camp says this, Wike’s camp did not say this.’ Meanwhile, nobody has met Wike’s camp, if at all Wike has any camp. I’m not a theoretical politician; I’m a practical politician at home.
‘’If I as a governor don’t stay in Abuja, I don’t even sleep there; those who are sleeping there, what are they doing there? Their business is to go home and talk to their people; leave Abuja alone. You cannot be there and direct what will happen. Very soon, we will know who can deliver his unit, ward, local government and state.”
According to a statement issued by the media aide to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, the governor described as inconsequential the claims of support for Atiku by some politicians ‘’if they are not working to mobilise grassroots voters to secure electoral victory for the PDP.’’
Wike explained that the quantum of individual votes from units, local government and states would determine victory for the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2023 and not rumour peddlers.
He added, “We are busy campaigning with our projects and working on how our party will win elections in the state; other people are busy in Abuja carrying rumours and gossip up and down.
‘’We are busy all day flagging off projects and commissioning projects that will sell our party; others are busy every day in the newspapers (saying) ‘Wike did this, Wike did that,’ then they will call the candidate, ‘you saw what I said about Wike today?’
“Instead of you doing something that will make your party win the 2023 election, you are busy every day saying ‘Wike said this.’ Where you heard from Wike, I don’t know, maybe in your dream. You want to support a candidate but you are not at home, you are in Abuja.’
As part of his conditions for peace, Wike’s loyalists are insisting on the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who, however, vowed to serve out his four-year tenure.
The party had set up a 14-man reconciliation panel to mend fences between Wike and Atiku, but the committee had yet to resolve the crisis.