In endless tirades against his own political party, the Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike said, “just as the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not good for democracy, so also is it unacceptable for a northerner – PDP’s Atiku Abubakar to take over from Katsina-born President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.”
Speaking on Sunday at the St. Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu-Port Harcourt during the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dedication Service for 2023 Election Campaigns, the controversial governor urged the Church to “shine its eyes”.
The outburst is again, coming on the heels of next year’s general election, where Atiku Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the PDP, with Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while the former governor of Anambra State is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
Wike advised the Church to beware desperate politicians who are targeting the Church.
He said the Church should be at alert against being dragged into political mudslinging and any form of intrigues.
The governor said: “All of us should participate in the politics of Nigeria but the church must not be used as if we are fighting a religious war.
“We have to be careful so that the church is not destroyed,” the governor said.
“We cannot hand over govt to unserious people,” Wike said, adding that political parties must pay to use any public facility in Rivers.
“With about two months to the 2023 presidential election on February 25, politicians have been seen at major programmes of mega churches, tacitly seeking support of their large congregations.
Wike’s 2023 presidential ambition was terminated when he lost the PDP’s primary to Atiku in May. Atiku, a former Vice President later stung Wike when he passed over his closest rival at the primary and chose Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Wike has since been at loggerheads with PDP presidential candidate (Atiku) over the chairmanship of Iyorchia Ayu. Wike with four other PDP governors known as the G5 or the Integrity Group have insisted that Benue-born Ayu must step down for a southerner as a precondition to support the 2023 ambition of Atiku.
Last month, Wike promised logistics support for the campaigns of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; and his New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
While Wike and his allies have not been seen to campaign for Atiku, it is not clear whether they will support Obi, Kwankwaso or APC’s Bola Tinubu in the contest for Aso Rock’s top job.
