By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has warned politicians who may want to run for governorship or other elective positions in 2023 not to consult the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He also threatened that any of the politicians who embarks on consultation of the national leaders of the party would be doing so at his own peril.
Wike issued the warning during the flag-off of the Oyigbo-Okoloma Road for construction at Mini Nwanyi, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on Wednesday.
Governor Wike charged members of the PDP interested in contesting for various offices in 2023 to identify with the electorate at home and allow their work to speak for them.
He said: “What I have told them is to go and do their consultation but nobody should consult the national chairman. Nobody should consult the NWC. Do your consultation here because it is the people here that will vote. If I see any of your legs in NWC, going to meet them, you will tell me what you’re looking for in that NWC.
“I’m telling you now, if I see anybody, either in the dream or in reality, you’re talking with NWC, you will tell me whether it is NWC that will vote in Rivers State. Look at the people you’re consulting, they’re all here. Go and consult them. If they agree, they agree.”
Governor Wike called on the PDP national chairman, Sen. Dr Iyorchia Ayu, not to listen to anybody coming to
consult him for support. He advised the PDP national boss to rather be neutral and play the role of a father to all members of the party.
“National chairman, tell them not to consult you. Your own is that you’re the father of the party. You will make sure that they bring the names to you and then you forward to the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said.
The governor also warned RIvers PDP members in the National Assembly not to form any bloc in Abuja to be used as a platform for working against the interest of the party in the state, insisting that the home front is the most important platform for political success.
“Senators, members of House of Representatives, because you people are in Abuja, don’t go and form that your bloc there o. If you form your bloc, the bloc at home is bigger than any other bloc. But at the end of the day, you will see how we will do it and come out.
Our state is not like any other state where you see posters everywhere. When you bring your posters, your posters will send you out. What we’re doing now is consultation. By the time you finish consulting, nobody will tell you whether you want to run or you will not run,” he said.
Wike further stated that he had not asked any prospective aspirant to present any gift to any godfather in other to get his support. He said:
“And let me also tell some of you who may not know: I did not tell you to go and buy cow for people. You know politicians now, their eyes are open, their hands are open.”
