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Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has challenged those threatening to expel him from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go ahead and try it if they can.

Governor Wike gave the challenge at the Eneka Road Roundabout, venue of the flag-off ceremony for the construction of Eneka-Igbo Etche Road dualisation project on Friday. Governor Wike, who insisted that he was unperturbed about the threat of expulsion, however, wondered why those desiring to expel him were displaying anxiety instead of acting out their threat, and see if they would survive it. According to him, “when the time comes, we will know who has capacity and who does not have capacity.”

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The Rivers State governor also reiterated the minimum demand of the members of the G-5 group, which is the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman of PDP to allow for a southerner to occupy the office.

“We have made our demand and our demand is the national chairman must come to the South. It’s non-negotiable. If you say you don’t care, no problem. Let’s go to the field. No need to begin to threat people you will do this, you will do that.”

In retrospect, Governor Wike recalled how between 2002 and 2003 former President Olusegun Obasanjo knelt down to beg his then deputy, now PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to support his second term bid and the conditions the latter gave to him.

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“You say we are giving condition, but you forget history. In 2002- 2003 when president Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to run for second tenure, he knelt down before his vice president and said my vice, please, allow me to run. You know one of the conditions he gave him, Tony Anenih must be sacked as the Minister of Works and Tony Anenih must not be in the presidential campaign council. Obasanjo obliged and sacked Tony Anenih as Minister of Works and removed him from presidential campaign council.” He expressed surprise over the undying interest by those who said they have moved ahead and did not need the G-5 group to win the 2023 election. Wike wondered why those antagonistic to the G-5 governors were always sniffing around to uncover any latest move made by the group.

“What is your problem assuming that there was a meeting. Has Atiku not been holding meetings with governors of APC? Ask him. As he is in Dubai, don’t we know what is going on? So, why do you bother about us, G-5, that you say you can win without us? Leave us alone.”

He also took on Uche Secondus, the former national chairman of PDP, who claimed that he is his benefactor, and said it was a lie.

(Sun)

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