Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa, has encouraged Nyesom Wike, the current governor of Rivers, to quit griping about the results of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primary (PDP).
Lamido gave a statement during a Sunday appearance with XANDERTECH.
Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, won the PDP presidential nomination in May after receiving 371 votes, while his closest rival, Wike, received 237.
Before Atiku chose his running partner, many thought that Wike would be his choice, but the former vice president chose Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of the Delta.
Atiku explained his decision’s justification as choosing someone he could get along with.
Later, in response, Wike said that the former vice president “told numerous lies.”
Lamido, a PDP leader, commented on the situation and recommended Wike take a cue from Peter Odili, a former governor of the Rivers who was denied the PDP presidential ticket for the 2007 election.
In addition, Lamido advised Wike to take a cue from former transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi and vice president Yemi Osinbajo, both of whom failed to win the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary.
“Peter Odili of Rivers State was stopped by the party which went on to nominate President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who did not even show interest,” Lamido said. “A day to the PDP’s presidential convention, which Peter Odili of Rivers State was bound to win and was also bound to win the presidential election.”
“A vice presidential ticket was offered to him, but it was never delivered. He handled it like the responsible adult he is.
“Look at the APC. The vice president, Osinbajo, the senate president, and even his countryman, Amaechi, all received humiliating treatment; they handled it like mature men and did not complain as Wike is doing. We refer to this as maturity.
“Can you tell me why? This is due to the party’s dominance. Your party cannot be bigger than you. Party is natural. The convention is now over.
“Because their party has spoken, Osinbajo, Lawan, and Amaechi have displayed maturity. Will Wike continue to speak and act in the same way if he joins the APC?
“The PDP is an organic party, which is what I mean when I say that the party is paramount. In 2015, a large number of PDP supporters switched to the APC, but the PDP held on because it is an organic party with deep roots and is not run by a single individual.
“Wike should act responsibly because Atiku and him are no longer involved in the situation. Now that Atiku is the PDP candidate, he is not waging a war against the candidate himself but rather the party. The gathering forced him.
Let him pick up tips from Peter Odili, his old employer. He will share a moving tale with him since Peter Odili is the only person I have ever seen who experienced such betrayal and denial.
“The dude is extremely gentle and modest. He really is the best, in every way. Wike declared his candidacy for office. I am a product of the previous regime, which values political party culture. He forced a candidate to run for governor of Rivers state.
“Others sought the governorship; have they made amends? The man he forced won the congressional governorship ticket. Who did Wike offend? Did the conference make Wike feel bad? How? There is no atonement. He is a party supporter and stated following the convention that the procedure was highly credible. As he said.