The governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday alleged that the national working committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in league with the opposition in the state and promised to “hit back” at the right time.
Wike, who made the allegation at the PDP Etche local government area campaign rally in the state, said the national leadership of the party was engaging in anti-party activities.
Recall that Wike, who belongs to the G-5 PDP governors, has distanced himself from the presidential campaign council of the PDP since the former vice president, Mr. Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party’s presidential candidate in May 2022.
The G-5, made up of Messrs Wike, Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Uqwuanyi (Enugu) -has insisted that the north cannot produce both the standard bearer and national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, according to the party’s constitution.
The group wants Ayu to resign so that a southerner can take over so as to ensure regional balancing.
Speaking at the rally, Wike told the party faithful that trouble had come.
“Those of them in Abuja that are talking about anti-party [activities], we have caught them now. They are the ones doing their anti-party (activities).
“I have caught them now and I told them anti-party begets anti-party. You know we carried these small parties to court for failing to do what the law says – All Progressives Congress (APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“The people in Abuja that say they are national have gone to collude with them to write our lawyer a letter that they should take their hands off, in order to kill the cases we filed,” he said.
Wike added that despite having told the state chapter’s counsel to “remove their hands,” he has no problem with the case dying.
However, Wike said he was ready to fight back.
“I will hit them back by tomorrow. There is nobody that touches us that will not get a wound on his body. Anybody that says he will touch us in Rivers State, I will give him many wounds on his body – and we have started it.
“We are voting for our people here. Now [that] you have told us you are doing anti-party [activities], we’ll show you what anti-party [activity] is. We have caught them red-handed. They are the ones that started anti-party (activities).
“We didn’t do anti-party (activities). Anyway, it has been in their blood. Now, they have shown their hands. You people should just watch from tomorrow what will happen to them.”
The governor told the supporters not to cry for his political enemies saying they (political enemies) would be dealt with appropriately.
“Don’t cry when armed robbers catch them because we will teach armed robbers a lesson. We will deal with armed robbers so that they will know it’s not good to steal other people’s things. That’s how we will deal with them tomorrow,” he said.
Wike also urged the party’s supporters to await the decision of Rivers PDP.
“So, Chief Emma Anyanwu, Allwell Onyesoh, Kelechi, (and the) party chairman, all of them will start work to tell you what we have agreed. Anything they say is our agreement; that is what we agreed. Heaven will not fall.
“These few days that remain, it’s a battle to the finish. If you say we won’t be there, you won’t be there either,” he added.
