“When we say that there are moles amongst the presidential aspirants, this is one of the manifestations. A decision that is collectively taken is being contested through clandestine sponsorship. But if they want, the national convention can be held in Maiduguri, Yola, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano or any other city. A presidential aspirant that would lose would lose.”
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Governor of Rivers State, has said he would not seek the position of the Vice President despite persuasion from supporters.
Speaking in an interview with The Osasu Show at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, Wike dispelled the rumour that he was lobbying to be a running mate of the presidential candidate that would eventually be elected by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said: “There are aspirants who have promised me the position of the Vice-President, but I said I will not seek the position.
“Not even in the dream will I seek that position at this point. I am a first-term Governor and the National Chairman of PDP is from my state and the South-South.
“These are mere allegations. People can carry rumours, but everything I will do will be in the interest of Rivers State. Nobody can use Rivers State as a tool. They did that in the past, but not anymore.”
He said the decision to host the 2018 national convention in Port Harcourt was initiated without his knowledge, adding that he eventually attended a meeting where governors and presidential aspirants ratified the resolution.
He expressed surprise that a few presidential aspirants who didn’t initially oppose the decision to host the convention in Port Harcourt have now turned around to sponsor reports against the venue.
“I am shocked that a few presidential aspirants who never opposed Port Harcourt as a venue would begin the sponsorship of media attacks on the venue of the convention, which was not initiated by us.
“When we say that there are moles amongst the presidential aspirants, this is one of the manifestations. A decision that is collectively taken is being contested through clandestine sponsorship. But if they want, the national convention can be held in Maiduguri, Yola, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano or any other city. A presidential aspirant that would lose would lose.
“All the national delegates that will vote at the national convention will emerge from the different local government areas of the country and from the statutory delegates’ list. None will be elected in Port Harcourt. Therefore, it is uncharitable to attempt to create the impression that hosting it in Port Harcourt will influence the outcome.”
The Genius Media