Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike
‘Arrogance cannot take you anywhere,’ Wike replies PDP National Chairman, Ayu
Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the National Chairman of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, of ingratitude and arrogance following the latter called those calling for his resignation from office as ‘children.’
It would be recalled that one of the demands by Governor Wike as condition for truce with the party is the resignation of Ayu as National Chairman.
Wike has been at loggerheads with chieftains of the party following his failure to secure the Presidential ticket for the 2023 General Elections to Atiku Abubakar, in addition to also losing the Vice Presidential slot to Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
The Rivers has maintained that the position of National Chairman of the PDP cannot be occupied by candidate from the North, since Ayu had originally agreed to vacate the position if another northerner wins the Presidential ticket of the party.
However, Ayu has insisted on staying put in office, a decision which Wkie and his supporters, including other State Governors, say is against the constitution of the PDP.
Ayu said during an interview with BBC Hausa that such calls for his resignation ‘are coming from political amateurs who lack a basic understanding of PDP’s principles.’
According to Ayu, he was elected by Nigerians and members of the opposition party to that exalted position based on PDP’s guidelines.
“I was voted as PDP national chairman to serve for four years, I am not even a year old on the position,”
“Atiku’s victory at the national primaries has no nothing to do with the party’s leadership; I was the bonafide winner of the election. We acted within the dictates of the PDP constitution.
“I have not violated any rules; in fact, I am working to bring reforms to the party. I am truly not bothered by the unnecessary controversy being generated,” Ayu maintained.
However, Wike while responding to Ayu’s position, Thursday during the opening of the Omerelu Internal Roads in the state’s Ikwerre Local Government Area, told the national Chairman that his ‘arrogance cannot take him anywhere.
“Somebody said those of you who said the right thing must be done are boys, they are children. You can imagine what power can do. You can imagine how ingratitude, how people can be ingrates.
“I thought as a chairman of a party who wants to win the election, your business is to bring peace to the party; your business is not to divide your party, your business is not to show arrogance.
“Dr Ayu said we are children. Yes, the children brought you to be chairman of the party, the children brought you from the gutter to make you chairman.
“Ayu, you were impeached as Senate President; Ayu you were sacked by (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo in his administration two times. Arrogance cannot take you anywhere.”
