2023: I m done with Atiku and I have told Rivers people my preferred Presidential Candidate -Wike

By George Aluo

Tough talking Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike has bided final bye to Atiku Abubakar of PDP ahead of the 2023 presidential election, even as he added that he has told Rivers people who to vote for on February 25.

Wike spoke today at a media parley in Portharcourt insisting that reconciling with Atiku would be like the biblical cattle passing throw the eyes of the needle.

It would be noted that a group of five governors — known as G5 — led by Wike is against the presidential bid of Atiku, arguing that his election as presidential candidate goes against the agreement to zone the presidency to the south.

Wike and his allies— including Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu — have excluded themselves from the party’s presidential campaign over calls for Iyorchia Ayu to step down as the national chairperson.

In the past few months, several attempts at reconciliation have failed to yield desired results by some party stakeholders.

Speaking at the media chat, Wike said the timeframe for resolving the grievance of the G5 is “over” and he is “not ready to sit down with anybody again”.

“No, we can’t do that; it’s over! We have said it and there is nothing anybody can do about it now,” the number one citizen of the ‘Treasure Base of the Nation,’ Wike stated.

“They believe they can win the election. I am not ready to sit down with anybody again,” He added.

Wike said he has informed the residents of Rivers of his preferred presidential candidate and that the people are ready to vote for the individual.

The governor however failed to mention the name of the candidate.