Ayo Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, has outlined why he thinks Nyesom Wike will never back Atiku Abubakar, the PDP's nominee for president.
In an exclusive telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Fayose stated that after President Muhammadu Buhari's second term expires in 2023, leadership must move to the southern region of Nigeria.
The former governor also recalled how Mr. Atiku "promised" to name Mr. Wike, the governor of Rivers State, as his running mate once he was crowned the PDP presidential primary election victor.
The former governor of Ekiti claimed that Mr. Atiku broke his pledge to Mr. Wike by choosing Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, as his running mate.
“Wike never said he wanted to be VP, but when Atiku visited him, he was the one who said, ‘I want you to be my VP’. He said that to Wike. If that then changes, is Wike not supposed to be told? Is he not supposed to know?”
He thought back to Mr. Atiku's decision to disregard the advice of a committee appointed by the opposition party to select his running partner.
“PDP set up a committee to recommend a running mate for the candidate and the committee voted and picked Wike, but they didn’t comply with the recommendation of the committee.”
“If the party is now a one-man show, we will show them that we can resist it. We are with Wike 100 per cent.
“When they need Wike’s money and Wike’s support, they will say, ‘Wike is good enough’. Wike has been injured, but we will remain with him. Whatever he does is what we would do; wherever he asks us to go is where we will go.”
The former governor responded, "Wike will never tell we should support Atiku," when asked what would happen if Mr. Wike requested them to back Mr. Atiku.
“Wike cannot come out to say he is supporting Atiku. I dare him to say so; because he knows that whatever he says will haunt him forever. If Wike supports Atiku, we will abandon him.”
When contacted for comment, Mr. Atiku's spokesperson, Paul Ibe, stated that both his principle and the party will keep pleading with those who felt wronged to engage in conversation.
“Because the bigger challenge is winning the election, kicking out the APC and stopping them from the many years of impoverishing our people,” said Mr Ibe.
“It is normal for our people to be aggrieved but the PDP has a way of resolving issues like this and that will be done and we all shall be happy.”
When asked if the intention was to officially support either Peter Obi of the Labour Party or Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Fayose responded, "This is not about Bola Tinubu or Obi, but this is about our belief that power must come to the south and it is a struggle we must actualize.
Mr. Fayose went on to say that "the presidency was designated to the southwest after the June 12 election was cancelled to appease the southwest region.
“When former President Goodluck Jonathan was over staying, it was believed that he was already using the northern slot. So, he was opposed and a northern candidate was installed through the APC.
“This time, it is the turn of the south because Buhari has spent eight years. Why will PDP be insisting that it must again be the turn of the north.”
Mr Fayose also stated that he does not care if his actions are perceived as anti-party activity.
“ What I am saying is, it is the turn of the South, and if they want to expel me, to hell with them. I am not taking money from anyone to belong to this party.
“If they want to rock this boat, we will help them to rock it.”