Obi openly woos Wike, says, I’m kneeling down and begging

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has made a passionate appeal to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, to support his bid to become Nigeria’s president in 2023 while he (Wike) continues to control the state.

Wike belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party. Obi’s plea is therefore coming amid crisis in the PDP which has seen Wike refusing to support Atiku Abubakar, his party’s presidential candidate.

Obi spoke on Thursday during the inauguration of the Nkpolu Oroworukwo flyover in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The LP presidential candidate promised a reciprocal support of the LP for the governor’s candidate in the 2023 poll.

“I will talk to my people and we will negotiate. If we leave the state for him (referring to Wike), he will leave the federal for us. We will negotiate it. We know you’re in charge,” Obi said.

He also said, “We will not quarrel with you. Anybody who quarrels with you doesn’t know what he is doing. I will not try it. I’m begging. Please give us this one and take the other one. We will leave for you. I will accommodate them in the other one.

“I assure you of our commitment to build a better Nigeria. Our past will not be our future. I and Datti represent the future of Nigeria. I have told Nigerians to hold me responsible. I will not give excuse. I know the problems of Nigeria.”

He commended Wike for his performance in Rivers, adding that Port Harcourt has the potential to be the “export city” of Nigeria.

He advised Wike to remain consistent in his principles, and said if the Rivers governor supported LP, the party’s chances would be improved in the 2023 elections.

“Remember this agreement today. I’m kneeling down and begging. Take this one, give me this one. I assure you the one I will take, I will use it to ensure that Rivers State becomes greater and better,” he added.

Wike and his allies — which include four other governors — have excluded themselves from the PDP presidential campaign on the grounds that Iyorchia Ayu must resign as national chairman of the party.

According to the PDP stakeholders calling for Ayu’s resignation, the PDP chairman and presidential candidate cannot be from the same region.