In spite of the seeming intractable political differences between him and his former political ally, kinsman, former Rivers State Governor and currently, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike says he will not hesitate to support him if he (Amaechi) is adopted for the Presidential election in 2023.
Gov. Wike who made the declaration while speaking as a Guest on Arise Television Saturday, also ruled out nursing any presidential ambition, saying his pre-occupation for now is to deliver the dividends of democracy to Rivers people.
He however, gave conditions under which he would lend his weight behind Amaechi if he decides to have a shot at the presidency.
Gov. Wike said one, Amaechi has to jettison his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which he said has not only failed Nigeria but also kept the nation in its present calamitous state and register with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Again, he has to be the collective choice of the party for the election, Gov. Wike emphasized.
His words: “Let me say, on whether I will support the former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi if he decides to contest for presidency as you have asked, I am a party person, so if he is running on the platform of PDP for presidency, why won’t I support him.
I cannot do anti-party at this level to support a non-PDP candidate”.
Speaking further, Gov Wike recalled that in 2018 and 2019, “when I was supporting my friend Aminu Waziri Tambulwal, it was speculated in the media that I was going to run with him.
That was my first tenure and I have not even completed it and they wanted me to give that away.
“To clear every speculation, let me state that I am not going to run for the Office of the President of Nigeria for now. I am concentrating in developing Rivers State. I am not a party to anybody saying that the problems in PDP is about 2023.
“That can be the problem in APC because it is the ruling party. This is the last tenure of Mr. President and he is going, so people are hustling to take over from him within his party. PDP has nothing to do with that because the way it is now, we are taking over from nothing.
“Now, I just started my second tenure and you’re talking about the presidency. When that enters anybody’s head then that person will not be able to provide the dividends of democracy to the people. And that is the problem you see in APC because everybody is thinking of taking over from the President instead of concentrating to do their work.
“They don’t even know the minds of Nigerians. But because of the kind of politics we have, people feel since Mr. President is leaving, they do not want his party to lose out.
“How will someone in an opposition party begin to contemplate of running for presidency when I still have time to provide things for my state,” he said.
Commenting on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s aspiration to contest for the presidency again, Governor Wike said it is a fundamental right that cannot be denied.
He however, said it is too early to determine who will fly the presidential flag of PDP because the focus is on how to get the party more organised in order to secure more political seats.
“I am not interested in who wants to run for now. I am more interested that PDP should become more organised. Let us get more political seats. When the time comes, we will all sit down as a party to decide on who will fly the flag.”
On zoning of PDP presidential ticket to the north, Governor Wike said the national executive council of the party has not taken a final decision.
“We will come together to resolve issues because we are a family. Outsiders cannot do things that will divide us.
“What we are interested in now is how we can remain united to take over power from APC that has failed Nigeria.
“APC should not be allowed to continue to keep the country in its present calamitous state. We want to take over to move Nigeria forward”, he added.
