Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike
2023 Presidency: ‘I’m not Atiku’s running mate’ – Wike, tackles Dokpesi for ‘arrogating power to himself’
Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike has dismissed widespread reports which had claimed that he has been picked to be running mate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform ahead of the 2023 General Election.
Governor Wike also lambasted a PDP chieftain and head of ex-Vice President Atiku’s campaign group, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi for claiming that there was never an existing zoning arrangement in the party for the presidential ticket, even as the latter also declared that his principal would govern for only one term before handling over to the South East region.
Making the clarification during an interactive session with some stakeholders at the Government House Port Harcourt, Tuesday, Wike urged Nigerians to disregard the report.
According to the Rivers governor, the South zone was yet to make a statement on the zoning of the presidential ticket of the PDP, warning further that the southern region cannot be seen as a liability.
Wike said when the south region takes a position on the presidency zoning matter, ‘the whole world will know it.’
“Please discountenance all those things you are hearing. The south will make a statement very soon.
“The day the south makes a statement Nigerian will know that we’re not joking.
“What is necessary is to make sure that the party gets it right.
“We are assets, we are not liabilities. If we say we are going to support the party we will do it with everything we have.
“We are not in America where they do television campaigns no it’s not done here.
“When we come out we will choke them.
“So everybody should relax let the south do their proper homework and they will make a statement that will be beneficial to Nigerians and the PDP,” Wike stated.
On reports credited to Dokpesi over claims of the non-existent zoning arrangement, the Rivers governor berated the party chieftain for arrogating ‘the power of the party to himself.’
“At the level of Dopkesi, he said he is a high chief; going to television to tell people that there is no zoning. I can’t believe this. Even if somebody is to say it. Is he the one to say it?
“And he has arrogated the power of the party to himself saying when Atiku wins, he will hand over to the South East. Is that not the decision of the party? So the party cannot make a decision at all, Dokpesi has zoned it”.
