Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is unhappy with top chieftains of his political party, the PDP, ahead of the Edo governorship primary election slated for June 25.
Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki completed his acrimonious deadline day transfer from the APC to the PDP on Friday, June 19, 2020, in a bid to realise his re-election ambition; after an APC shut-out orchestrated by now suspended national Chairman Adams Oshiomhole.
Obaseki was supposed to pick up the PDP governorship ticket without a fight in Edo. However, one of the aspirants has run to the courts to stop him dead in his tracks.
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has ruled on a suit filed by the leading PDP governorship aspirant in Edo state, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
The court has restrained Obaseki from participating in the PDP primary exercise pending the determination of the suit on notice.
Ogbeide-Ihama is an ally of Wike's.
Now, some PDP members are blaming Wike, who was the first PDP politician Obaseki ran to when he switched camps to the party, from trying to ruin Obaseki’s re-election bid.
“With a Friend Like Wike, Obaseki Meets His PDP’s Waterloo; Almost,” a ThisDay frontpage headline screamed on June 23, 2020.
All of which has left Wike infuriated and sore displeased.
“I told them that in Edo State, we must handle the issue carefully and carry everybody along. They must respect human beings and not behave like tax collectors. They said because an order was obtained from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, then I am responsible,” Wike said in a statement.
The Rivers governor says he will no longer play the role of peacemaker ahead of the Edo vote. “I have had sleepless nights to resolve the issue in Edo state. The Governors of Edo, Adamawa, and Delta states, know what I have done to resolve the issues in Edo state.
“As a result of this senseless accusation, I have pulled out of Edo State settlement. My integrity matters.
“I have also directed my lawyer to write ThisDay Newspaper on the publication they made against me in their Tuesday, 23rd June, 2020 edition.
“I know the members of the National Working Committee of PDP who connived with ThisDay. They are tax collectors. Let them challenge me and I will come out with more facts.
“Nobody will rubbish me by raising false accusations against me. I will fight back.
“I will no longer participate in any reconciliation and I wonder why the NWC now wants to consult Governors of the party.
“Why did the NWC not consult with Governors in the case of Bayelsa State?
“If PDP is not careful, the crisis in the All Progressive Congress (APC) would be a child's play.
“I am brought up not to accept injustice, and that is why I keep speaking out on national issues. Nobody in PDP can intimidate Rivers State.
“Nobody can threaten me because I said things must be done constitutionally. I will always continue to satisfy my conscience.
“From now on, I want to concentrate on the development of Rivers State," the Rivers governor added.
Wike is one of his party's most hands-on and politically savvy operatives.