Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has accused former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, of telling lies against him.
Wike, who made the accusation on Friday while speaking on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, also accused Atiku of using some stalwarts of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to spread falsehood about him.
The governor vowed to respond to both the PDP presidential candidate and the party chieftains whom he described as Atiku’s ‘attack dogs’ one-by-one and line by line in due time.
He faulted the comments credited to the former Vice President on the day he unveiled Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate in Abuja.
Wike said: “I have decided to be quiet because PDP is a party I love so much. I have moved on to conclude my social contract with the people of Rivers. However, it is time to let Nigerians know the truth.”
Wike stated that posterity would not forgive him should he fail to set the record straight and promised to clear the air after the commissioning of the projects lined up for inauguration by the state government.
On the reconciliation committee set up by the PDP leadership, Wike stated that former Vice President Atiku had yet to send any delegation to him.
The governor, however, said a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, met with him in Spain, although in his personal capacity.
He said: “The former vice president came to my house to beg for support but suddenly does not know the way to my house any longer.”
Wike went on to challenge anyone to identify that he or she was sent by the PDP candidate to speak to him about the issue in the PDP and the aftermath of the party’s presidential primary.
The governor, who said the idea of setting up a committee was only being seen in the media, however, insisted that he would remain in the PDP and help rebuild the party.
He said: “I am not a slave and will not be a slave. I am freeborn of the country.”
