Wike declares for 2023 presidential race

By Aboje Anefu, Makurdi

RIVER State Goveror, Nyelson Wike, on Sunday breezed to Makurdi, Benue State capital, declared his interest in the nation’s most exalted seat appealed to Benue people to vote for him during the coming party primary.

He called on national delegates of Peoples Democratic Party not to sell their vote but should consider him.

Wike who addressed the party delegates at government house, Makurdi said that most of the presidential aspirants from the party were responsible for the party defeat in 2015.

Apparenly referring to the former Vice President and President of the Senate; Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Bukola Saraki respectively, Wike asked that some of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the party left the party when it matter most.

He said, “Let this people who are interested in presidency in PDP tell us their contributions, you claimed to be one of the founding fathers of the party, but you have left and came back, you have become ordinary person in the new PDP.

“If you form a company and run away because the company is not doing well you come back and found that it is now doing well and you want to come and take over.

He further said, “Some people want to use Nigeria to get back their private business, let them mention their private sector that survived; is it bank that your father had.

“Everybody is an employer of labour, even me I have 50 people in.my house, so everybody has been employing people according to his capacity.

“In 2015, most of these people made us (PDP) to lose the election.

The Rivers State Governor said he had stood firm for the party through thick and thin, adding that he had contributed immensely to the growth of the party.

“I have spoken truth to power, I don’t have problem with anybody but have to tell them the truth. Umahi and others abused me because I told him that you can not take our mandate away.

“As governor I have performed well, I can go anywhere with my shoulder high, how many of them have challenged this government, (APC).”

Earlier, Benue State Goveror, Samuel Ortom who lauded the contributions of his River State counterpart to Benue State and towards the displaced persons said that the people of the state would support his aspiration.

“Periodically, you have been helping us, particularly during the 2018 crisis in the state, we will support your aspiration because you have sown seed and you need to reap.

Ortom said he had been a vanguard on the southern presidency, adding, “on southern presidency I stand.”