… Denies working against Obi
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has boasted that he doesn’t need the Army or Police to rig elections.
According to Wike, those who have not offered anything depend on security agencies to help them rig elections.
The governor said what he needs is to be able to perform and win an election.
He stated this during a media chat with selected journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Wike said, “In 2019, you saw what the Army did to me. You witnessed when President Muhammadu Buhari gave me an award as the best-performing infrastructure state.
“Why would I need the Police to rig an election? Why would I need the Army? It is only those that have not been able to offer anything that is dependent on security agencies to help them rig elections. I don’t need it” what I need is to be able to perform.
“Promise people, promise local government this is what you are going to do and you do it. Have they done it, I have promised, yes, have I fulfilled yes? Let one local government come out and say I promised and did not fulfil.”
Similarly, Governor Nyesom Wike has denied working against Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the 25 February presidential poll.
He stated that it is unfortunate that Peter Obi claimed he stood against him during last month’s presidential election.
He said Peter Obi is ungrateful.
Also, the governor said he never told Rivers people to vote for the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He faulted claims that he rigged Rivers State polls to favour his preferred candidates at the Presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections.
He said Rivers voted for the unity of Nigeria by voting for Tinubu at the presidential poll.
He stressed that his goal from the outset of the presidential election was there- the president must come from the South.
He added that he never campaigned against Peter Obi.
“I never told Rivers people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu but for the Unity of Nigeria. As far as Rivers State is concerned, it was a power shift to the South. And there are two candidates from the South, Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, so If the majority of Rivers People decided to vote for Tinubu and others for Peter Obi, that tells you the decision of the citizens.
“How can you talk about me rigging the election? I don’t work as ad-hoc staff for Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, so I am not in the place to rig elections for anybody. When you have INEC’s materials, you can talk about rigging.
“But I take exemption to Peter Obi’s comment that I came out against him, people are not being sincere and appreciative. In 2019, I was among the people who chose Peter Obi for Atiku Abubakar.
“I was faulted for the choice, people like Ike Ekweremadu and my friend, the Governor of Ebonyi State and Pius Ayim. Every blame was on me; that why would I be the one to choose for the South East?
“Did he come out to say I supported him?
“I told Nigerians I will support a South candidate in the Presidential Election.
“When Peter Obi says I was against him, it is unfortunate because nobody ever told me that I campaigned against him. It is incorrect to say I was against him.
“I told my people to support a southern candidate, which they did; the first position in Rivers State during the poll was a south candidate, same with the second position.
In the 25 February Presidential Election, Tinubu polled 231,591 in Rivers State against Peter Obi’s 175,071 votes. At the end of the collation across States, Tinubu polled 8,794,726 to win the presidential election.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said history would be kind to members of the G-5 governors for standing for equity, justice and fairness despite their losses during the February 25 election.
Some of the governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party called G-5 lost their senatorial bids during the election.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State were defeated in their various senatorial districts.
Speaking on the matter , Wike who is the leader of the G-5 said though the members lost their elections, history will be kind to them for producing a Southern president.
He said, “Ortom said even if he loses his senatorial election, let equity, justice and fairness prevail. He may not gain it now. But history will be kind to him.
“Same applies to Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu. Makinde said even if he lost his governorship ambition, he was interested in the unity of Nigeria”.
