Sack me if you can, Wike dares PDP
Tamarauemi Ebimini
The G-5 Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) returned home yesterday from their latest strategic talks in London and immediately launched into a fresh verbal battle with the party.
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, dared the party to expel him if it could for alleged anti-party activity.
He also denied that he and other members of the Integrity Group – Govs. Samuel Ortom (Benue),Seyi Makinde (Oyo),Ifeanyi Ugwanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) – had struck a deal with one of the presidential candidates outside of the PDP.
He spoke on a day the PDP flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, called himself an elephant who cannot be taken by surprise by the G-5 governors.
Atiku’s running mate and Delta State Governor,Ifeanyi Okowa,said separately yesterday that God,and not the G-5,would determine the fate of the PDP in the election.
Wike, who moved straight from the Port Harcourt International Airport to Igbo-Etche in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area to kick off the construction of Enekah-Igbo Etche road project, taunted Atiku’s loyalists for preoccupying themselves with the engagements of the G-5.
He did not disclose details of their London meeting but wondered why Atiku’s supporters kept discussing every move of the G-5 which it repeatedly dismissed as insignificant and irrelevant to the victory of the PDP presidential candidate.
The governor told Atiku’s camp that what was unfolding currently was a prelude to the trouble that it would face in due course.
He said;”They said we had meetings with a candidate. What is your problem assuming there was a meeting? Has Atiku not been holding meetings with governors of APC? Ask him. As he is in Dubai, don’t we know what is going on?
“So, why do you bother about us? The G5 you said you could win without us. Leave us alone. Focus on your problems. So, I want to tell you that whatever decision I will take, I will let you know and I can’t take any decision without taking advice from you.
“We know the parties some of these papers are supporting and their candidates. I am not the one that will go and see somebody and hide. Hide from who? Who is that person that will threaten me?You said you would sack me, go ahead.”