Wike finally opens up on why Rivers PDP picked Fubara as its candidate

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has said the Rivers state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) picked Siminalayi Fubara as its governorship candidate ‘to avoid acrimony’.

As reported by The Nation, Wike, considered the most influential man in Rivers politics, said his choice of Fubara was to move the state forward.

Wike The immediate past Rivers governor spoke on Sunday, January 7, at a state luncheon he organised in Port Harcourt to mark the New Year.

According to him (Wike), he bought the expression of interest and nomination forms for the governor and all the state and federal lawmakers PDP candidates in Rivers state.

His words: “Those who open their mouth to talk, don’t know anything. I was the one who paid for the forms for anybody who wanted to run for elections as governor, House of Assembly and National Assembly. Let one person raise his hand and said he bought forms.

“We say we are all family members, no need for acrimony. Don’t spend your money we will agree on who will run. The day we took the final decision, the chairman of elders council nearly collapsed. He is here. OCJ was there, Awuse was there. Omehia was there.

“He nearly collapsed. Why? He wanted a governor from the riverine area. When I looked at him, I say why would I allow this old man to just die. I say let’s not create the impression that there are people who want to monopolise power.

“Let’s allow everybody to be part of it because we belong to one Rivers state. If I had wanted, nobody would have stopped me.”