Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike yesterday outlined the reasons why former President Goodluck Jonathan is unlikely to back Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for president in the upcoming election.
Wike said this at the dedication ceremony for the Akpabu-Itu-Umudiogha road in Rivers’ Emohua Local Government Area, which was presided over by Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi.
He claims that when Jonathan went to the Dorchester Hotel in London in 2015 to meet Atiku, the former vice president instead “embarrassed” Jonathan and demanded that he give him his ticket.
Wike added that he is not asking that Atiku resign as the party’s nominee for president in the 2023 elections. Instead, he advised Atiku to see to it that Iyorchia Ayu was replaced as PDP national chairman by a southerner.
He said, “We forget history. In 2015 when Jonathan as a sitting President, I am not talking as a presidential candidate but as a sitting President, when he had won his primary, Jonathan went to London to Dorchester Hotel, he went to plead with Atiku Abubakar to come back to the party and support him.
“You know the condition he (Atiku) gave Jonathan? He should relinquish his ticket not to run as the President of Nigeria. That was the presidential candidate of a ruling party. He gave him a condition, telling him to relinquish that ticket.
“Today, we are not saying the presidential candidate should relinquish his ticket; we are not being selfish, we are saying since you are now the presidential candidate, let our people take the chairmanship,” he added.
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