The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pointed out how leaders and presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bowed to Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike’s insistence that Port Harcourt must be used for national convention.
The convention holding October 5 and October 6 will produce the party’s standard bearer for the 2019 presidential election.
Wike had wondered why a presidential aspirant would declare that he is uncomfortable with Port Harcourt as venue for PDP convention, but would love Rivers oil.
“Let me warn the party, if you dare, Rivers State will teach you a lesson. Those days have passed when they took Rivers State for granted. Nobody can use and dump Rivers State.
“No presidential aspirant can use and dump Rivers State. We never lobbied for it, we never asked for it, but it will boost the economy of the state. People will make money.
“Those who are against Rivers people from making money to improve their businesses will not get our support.
“I don’t know why anyone who wants to be president will be afraid of a venue. Then you are not prepared for the election.
“Nobody should dare Rivers State any more. Enough is enough. PDP should know that we are not a punching bag.
“We are not a people you can use and push. We are not harlots. Whenever you want, you come. When you finish, you push us aside.”
Reacting on Sunday, APC spokesman, Yekini Nabena, in a statement, said: “The PDP to all intents and purposes has become the theatre of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. Since assuming office after the disputed 2015 Rivers Governorship election, Wike has assumed the role of de facto PDP National Chairman, sole administration, spokesman, organising secretary and BoT Chairman.
“Recall Governor Wike’s imposition of an erstwhile PDP National Chairman without a formal Convention and the leaked telephone conversation of Governor Wike threatening to kill INEC officials he had paid to rig the rivers rerun election in favour of the PDP.
“Most recently, Governor Wike threatened the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, other PDP presidential aspirants and leaders to ‘Teach them a bitter lesson’ if they ‘dared’ to oppose his decision to host the PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
“Governor Wike had his way. It is an open secret that Governor Wike’s insistence on Port Harcourt is to manipulate and influence his choice of presidential candidate from the crowd of PDP presidential aspirants, virtually all of whom stole the nation’s commonwealth in the recent past.
“It is surprising that the PDP with its supposed seasoned politicians will sit by and allow Governor Wike use the PDP as his personal property, to determine who gets what, when and how, and where party conventions must be held. What happened to internal party democracy? Ofcourse, this is an alien concept to the PDP.
“Our great party, the APC has ensured that party processes are inclusive and participatory. The progressive Direct Primaries method of electing party candidates introduced by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led APC national leadership is a solid demonstration of our drive to ensure that internal party democracy is adhered to. This is a departure from the cash and carry system institutionalised by the PDP.
“PDP members who genuinely believe in our progressive ideologies are encouraged to leave the sinking PDP and join the APC where their voices will be heard and decisions taken collectively. They should leave the Wike Autocratic Party (WAP) for the Rivers State Governor and his minions, bent on foisting their unpopular and undemocratic will on the majority.”
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