Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has lashed out at Yakubu Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, for backing Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Governor Wike who spoke on Monday at the official flag off of Agbonchia-Indorama road in Eleme Local Government Area (LGA), said Dogara’s group adoption of Atiku contradicts the former Speaker’s earlier stance.
According to Wike, Dogara had said Nigeria’s next president must be Southerner.
“What I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time, I would challenge them to a debate. Ask Dogara: what made you leave PDP?” the governor asked during the event held on Monday.
“Dogara was to see me; unknown to me, he gave me an excuse and I was watching Dogara on TV being received by President Muhammadu Buhari that he has gone to APC. I say ‘Okay, no problem’.
“The same Dogara said the presidency should be zoned to southern Nigeria for there to be peace. Now, I hear about the same Dogara (backing Atiku from the north). Is that how you do things? Can’t you say something and stand by it?” Wike said.
Wike’s comments are coming amid the crisis rocking the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The aggrieved Rivers governor, who is leading the G5, has been demanding the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to pave the way for a southerner to lead the party in order to achieve a “regional balance”.
The governors’ argument is that both Ayu and Atiku hail from northern Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. Dogara has taken good decision for us and we are in support of this soul saving decision. We remain committed to Atiku/Okowa candidature, God willing the ticket will win election come 2023.