Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has told Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in Bayelsa State to reward his loyalty to former President Goodluck Jonathan by voting for him at the forthcoming presidential primary of the party. Wike, who met the delegates at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa insisted that he stood firm with Jonathan and remained loyal to him.

The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said he was handing himself over to Bayelsa people to consider him as their son, who required their support to clinch the PDP presidential ticket. Wike described himself as complete PDP member, who had never left the party saying he remains the only courageous and fearless person capable of confronting the APC in the 2023 presidential election.

The governor, who is a PDP presidential aspirant, expressed regret that the APC-led Federal Government had been unable to crush activities of bandits in parts of the country. He, however, reiterated that bandits would naturally run away when they knew that he had emerged the next president of Nigeria. Wike took a swipe against some APC presidential aspirants promising to consolidate on the achievements of Buhari.

He said: “It is most unfortunate when I hear people declaring (intention to be president) under APC and saying they want to continue the good job of Mr. President. Is it the good job of people dying every day or the good job of naira falling every day? I feel so ashamed that we have gotten to the level of sycophancy where people will come and say I want to continue the good job of Buhari. What is the good job of Buhari? Is it the hunger, poverty, insecurity or falling economy?

“I can’t believe that somebody will come out in today’s Nigeria and say I want to continue where Mr. Buhari has stopped. May God never allowed that evil to continue.”

In his response, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri noted that PDP constitution provided for the rotation of the position of presidential candidate between the North and South. He reiterated that it was expedient that such rotation was enforced within the principle of fairness, justice and fair play. Diri described Wike as a homegrown politician, who understood the contending issues both in the South-South region, and Nigeria as a whole.

Former Governor of Gombe State, Hassan Dakwambo said Wike requires their support to actualise his presidential bid. “Wike is not only one of their own, but a trusted, tested leader who is psychologically prepared, and has the courage to provide the needed leadership that Nigeria yearns for”, he said.