2023 Polls: Wike clarifies comment on Atiku over Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi

A statement by Kelvin Ebiri, his spokesperson, Governor Nyesom Wike spoke on Tuesday, January 3rd during the flag-off of Mgbuodohia Road construction in Rumuolumene town, Obio-Akpor LGA. where he pushed back against criticism that he mocked Atiku over former president Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi saying his intentions were not evil.

He said he was worried when he learned of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

On Sunday, Obasanjo declared his support for Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), saying he has what it takes to put Nigeria on the right path to progress.

Following the endorsement, Wike had said “something is fundamentally wrong” if Abubakar could not get the support of the former president whom he served with.

Wike’s comments were met with strong criticism from several PDP members, including the spokesperson for the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Senator Dino Melaye, who accused him of disrespect and unwarranted insult on the former vice president.

“I meant no bad. I’m only worried as a prominent PDP member. A man who loves PDP should be worried. That’s all – my concern. I was not mocking anybody,” the Rivers governor said on Tuesday during the flag-off of construction on Mgbuodohia Road.

“I was merely worried because my prayer was ‘Let Obasanjo remain quiet and not say anything.’ That was my prayer but my prayer didn’t work.

“My prayer was that if this man makes any statement, it indicts us because he was the president under the Peoples Democratic Party for eight years and he worked with our presidential candidate for eight years.

“One now concludes that having done so, then the principal will hand over to [him] having thought that this is the person that I think should do this job better. But when the principal has said, ‘No, it’s another person,’ it worried me and that’s why I said something is fundamentally wrong.”

The governor challenged those attacking him on behalf of Atiku, saying they should instead be in search of a remedy to the issues he pointed out.

“Instead of them to say, ‘What do you think is wrong?’ you are abusing me. What did I do? I didn’t do anything; all I [expressed] was a concern: ‘something is fundamentally wrong.’

Wike also said only those who love the PDP would be focused on ensuring that nothing untoward happens to the party.

“If you care for this party, it is for you to now go back [and ask]: ‘What is it that is fundamentally wrong that this man did what he did?’ And then you’re abusing me. I don’t understand. You’re abusing the man that is worried that the party should do something.

“I’ve told people, those who love this party – those who know that if anything happens to this party are those who are worried about the party, not those who are moving around every day.

“They are not bothered but those of us who since 1998, we joined this party, contributed to the survival of this party till now, that’s why we’re always shouting,” he said.

The governor echoed the views of the G5 or Integrity Group, a group consisting of him and four other aggrieved PDP governors, saying the issue was not about him, but equity, fairness, and justice.

“I don’t need anything. If anybody thinks that you can just sit in your house and dish our orders, it will not work. The house will collapse on you. So, you better think twice. So, stop sending all these your errands who don’t have any jobs. I have a job, that’s why I’m working up till now till May 29,” he said.

Recall that since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in May 2022, Wike has been at odds with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, must step down on the ground that he is from the same region as the standard bearer.