The immediate past Minister of state for Education and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial hopeful, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, has reacted to claims by his challengers that he influenced their disqualification on Tuesday by the party.
The panel set up to screen PDP governorship aspirants in four states of the South-South geo-political zone had disqualified no fewer than 13 of the aspirants in Rivers State.
They include former vice-chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Don Baridan; Hon. Oseleye Dennis Ojuka, Mrs. Abietedoghu Bob-Abbey Hart, Hon. Gabriel Pidomson, Hon. Atamuno Atamuno, and Dr. Silver Opusunju, Chief Sampson Ngerebara, Major Lancelot Anyanya, and Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja.
Others that would not participate in the forthcoming primaries are, Prince Tonye Princewill, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack, Engr. Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, and former Minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Odein Ajumogobia.
Those cleared to contest are Wike himself, former Senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district, Senator Lee Maeba, former Commissioner for works, Pawariso Samuel Horsfall, Captain Sunny Nwankwo, Hon. Bernard Mikko and Ibinabo Michael-West.
DAILY POST gathered that the Ambassador Obed Wadzani-led screening committee disqualified some of the aspirants because they were not card-carrying members of the party, a reason Princewill said was the handiwork of Wike.
His words: “They said I am not a PDP member. If this decision is true, this marks a new low in our state’s politics.”
“My options now are to appeal, quit politics altogether, stay in the PDP or go to another party (not APC) and run for Governor.”
“In addition to disqualifying me, Nimi Walson Jack, Bekinbo Dagogo Jack and Dumo Lulu Briggs were also disqualified, just to mention a few. The writing is on the wall. This is a sad day for internal democracy.”
But Speaking to DAILY POST on Wednesday through the Media Director of his Campaign Organisation, Mr. Emma Okah, Wike described the aspirants as bad losers.
“It is not a new thing for aggrieved persons in any competition to come out to say the outcome has been rigged in favour of one person,” he said.
“But the whole idea is discipline. How can people who have not laboured for PDP; those who have not sweat for the party; those who have not paid their dues want to become governor?” he asked.
“In most cases, part of the process needed to be a force to reckon with is staying within a party and building it. But most of these people have not done this.”
The spokesman further advised that the argument put forward by the aspirants be channeled through appropriate quarters.
“I listened and read their reactions which to me doesn’t hold water. However, they should be reminded that there is an option of appeal which they can explore.”
On the chances of his principal at the primaries, Okah said Wike will be going to the contest with full confidence.
“I said it from the beginning that he is the man to beat. Honestly, I wish all the aspirants were allowed to contest so that we can have robust primaries,” he stated.
“Let me add that most of these noise makers don’t even have the political experience to go into an election.”
“To start with, how many of them can boast of a good number of delegates. One expected that they would have presented a consensus aspirant and mobilise delegates for such individual.
“But because everybody is blinded by ambition, they all want to be governor. They lost and are now crying.
“For the primaries, Wike will emerge because he thoroughly did his homework. He has carried out adequate mobilisation for the party; he has toured the grassroots and local councils; he has empowered thousands of River people, and above all, shown that he is popular.
“He is the kind of man any party would present and not those who can’t even win their wards when the chips are down.” Okah added.
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