Wike dares PDP over national convention

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike (l) and Gombe State Governor and PDP Presidential Aspirant, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo at the Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday during the consultative meeting of the Gombe State Governor. 

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that there will be consequences if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  succumbs to pressures from planted PDP Presidential Aspirants to move the party's National Convention away from Port Harcourt. 

He further declared that the  State will not support  any desperate PDP Presidential Aspirant who is sabotaging  the economy of the state by fighting the hosting of the party's Presidential Primary in Port Harcourt. 

Governor Wike warned that Rivers People will teach  the party a bitter lesson if it allows planted desperate Presidential Aspirants to scuttle the hosting  of the Presidential Primary in Port Harcourt as agreed by all leaders of the party.

Speaking during a consultative visit by the Gombe State Governor and PDP Presidential Aspirant, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo at the Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday , Governor Wike said at the PDP's National Meeting, no Presidential Aspirant opposed Port Harcourt as a venue. 

He said any Presidential Aspirant fighting Rivers State should forget about the support of the state, during and after the National Convention. 

He said: Let me warn the party, if you dare, Rivers State will teach the party a lesson.  Those days have passed when they took Rivers State for granted.  Nobody can use and dump Rivers State. 

"No Presidential Aspirant can use and dump Rivers State. We never lobbied for it, we never asked for it, but it will boost the economy of the  state.  People will make money. 

"Those who are against Rivers people from making money to improve their businesses, will not get our support ". 

The governor said that whether the National Convention holds in  Jigawa or Adamawa, the winner preferred by the delegates will emerge. 

"I don't know why anyone who wants to be President, will be afraid of a venue.  Then you are not prepared for the election.

"Nobody should dare Rivers State any longer.  Enough is enough.  PDP should know that we are not a punching bag. We are not a people you can use and push. We are not harlots. Whenever you want, you come. When you finish, you push us aside.

"We will retaliate at the appropriate time.  When you go, tell your colleagues, the Presidential Aspirants.  We were not interested, but having given it to us, you cannot insult us", Governor Wike said. 

The  governor pointed out  that there are persons who are not Presidential Materials, but have  bought forms simply because the Presidency is zoned  to the North.

He wondered why a Presidential Aspirant would declare that he is uncomfortable with Port Harcourt as a venue, but would love  Rivers oil.

He said: "You come here to deceive us about restructuring.  Just that Rivers State is a venue, you fight it. Then, when you are there, what will  happen? You think  we are fools where you preach restructuring, then when you get the position, you abandon restructuring".

Governor Wike said that at the appropriate time, he will reveal the names of Presidential Aspirants working  with the  APC Federal Government to scuttle the Presidential Primary.

He added that no Presidential Aspirant will use a few members of the Board of Trustees of PDP to scuttle the decision of the party to host the Presidential Primary in Port Harcourt. 

The governor described Governor Dankwambo as eminently qualified to contest  the position of President.  He said Dankwambo will be considered when Rivers delegates meet to decide on who to support.

Earlier, Gombe State Governor and PDP Presidential Aspirant, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo called on Rivers PDP delegates to support his aspiration as he has the capacity to set the  country on the  path  of growth. 

He said that the crisis of development being suffered by the country is a result of the  leadership  vacuum at the Federal Level .

While saying that he has the training, exposure and experience to lead the country in the right direction, Dankwambo urged Nigerians not to make the error of 2015 when they chose promises ahead of performance. 

The Presidential Aspirant  said that he will support whoever emerges as Presidential Candidate, should  it turn out that party delegates vote in  a different direction.