“I am not a party to consensus rubbish’– Wike attacks Atiku, Tambuwal, others, meets Cross River PDP

[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]

Amid widespread consultations embarked upon by some State Governors of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the consensus-building initiative, the Rivers Governor and aspirant for the Presidential ticket of the party ahead of the 2023 elections, has distanced himself from the political arrangement, describing it as ‘rubbish.’

Members of the consensus-building initiative and presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as well as, Dr. Mohammed Hayatudeen, and other party stakeholders, have been on tour of South East states of the country, as they rally support for the PDP to dump its earlier arrangement of zoning the ticket to the Southern region.

Governor Wike who disclosed this in Calabar during his consultative visit to delegates and members of the PDP in Cross River State, also advised the delegates of the party not to waste their votes in the presidential primaries of the party.

He disclosed that he is serious with his ambition and he is not running to negotiate for anything or be the vice president of the country.

“Don’t waste your votes, if any elite comes to you and say don’t vote for Wike during the primaries, don’t listen to them.

“I have come to talk to the delegates who are members of the PDP.

“I am not sending people to talk to you because I want to see you face to face.

“I am coming to Cross River State to present myself to you that we have started the process that will usher in the next government of Nigeria.

“I am also coming to make myself available to the people of Cross River State that I will run for president of Nigeria.

‘I don’t want to run for running sake or be referred to as a former presidential candidate. I am not running to negotiate for anything or be the vice president.

“I have not collected senate form for anybody to hold for me neither have I collected any other form other than that of president of Nigeria,” Governor Wike said.

He called on delegates to employ people who can do the job besides being fearless and courageous.

He questioned the call for a consensus candidate for the people saying it’s rubbish and anyone who wants to run elections should come and run.

‘Employ people who have the energy to do the job and are fearless and courageous.

“Nigeria is the way it is because people are not courageous. 

“I am not here for consensus rubbish and if you want to run elections come and run.

“I am not a party to consensus and I don’t like to deceive people in my life, what I cannot do, I will not do”, he said.

He also faulted the rising level of insecurity in the country saying you cannot talk about insecurity without intelligence.

He also questioned the success of the APC government’s CBN Agric interventions, school feeding programmes and ‘Trader Moni’ describing them as ‘wayo.’

In his remarks, Senator representing Cross River Central in the National Assembly Professor Sandy Onor said governor Wike is a good neighbour who deserves the votes of the people of Cross River State.

He said it’s time to think Nigeria and not where we come from.

Also speaking, the state chairman of the PDP in the state Venatius Ikem thanked Governor Wike for standing by the PDP in the state and presented a love letter to the Rivers State governor.