2023 presidency: It’s time to repay me, Wike tells PDP leaders

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Tuesday in Abuja tasked the National Working Committee of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, to repay him with the party’s presidential ticket for his loyalty and struggle against the Uche Secundus-led NWC, which he said, has brought them into office.

This is as he warned the leaders against appointing delegates who have taken sides with some aspirants on the Primary Election Committee.

Wike also alleged sabotage over a power outage that almost marred his visit to Wadata Plaza. The power outage, our correspondent observed, was a result of lack of diesel to power the Secretariat generator; forcing the presidential aspirant to address the audience without a public address system.

According to him, “The household name now is Wike, so don’t make a mistake and lose Wike. Because if you lose Wike, you have lost the election. It is not our prayer that we should lose the election.

“It is important I take this opportunity and let you know that I am prepared. Psychologically, mentally and in all aspects I am very much prepared.

“So let us not waste time. Go and tell our people that you have seen the right person and the right person is Wike. It is important you do the campaign for me, that was how I did it for you too.

“When I was fighting the former NWC, some of you were supporting them. Now all of you are here. One good turn deserves another. So you people should also payback. Because you didn’t go to campaign, but now are seated here. So payback.

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“But please do us the favor of conducting a free and fair election, that will be an advantage for us to win in 2023.”

On the sudden power outage that greeted his arrival, Wike said “I hope there was no sabotage and if there was no sabotage, and we want to take over from the APC, we must have to be ready.

“This is a part of what we are talking about. If you are in charge of the secretariat, and the secretary does not know that there is no fuel; then it is also a failure on the part of the secretariat.

“So, Mr. Secretary, I hope your boys did not sabotage us and if they did not, they will only be held responsible for not doing their job very well.”

The former minister of state for education said, in choosing a flagbearer ahead of next year’s election, the party must not consider those aspirants who lost their states and couldn’t deliver victory to the PDP in the 2019 presidential elections.

He noted the party must be wary of opportunistic aspirants who fizzle away once they don’t clinch the presidential ticket.

“I have tried it in my state, and it has worked. Most of you who go to Rivers State will always see me with my leaders, trying to find out what we’re going to do. It is not easy, but it works. Every person in government must carry the party along.