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General News of Friday, 24 March 2023

Source: gistmania.com

'Peter Obi is ungrateful, I recommended him as Atiku’s running mate in 2019' - Gov. Wike

Nyesom Wike Nyesom Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said it is wrong for the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, in the February 25 presidential election, to say he worked against him (Obi) in the poll.

Following Obi’s loss to Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike has been accused of working against the former Anambra State governor.

Speaking during a media chat with selected journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, as reported by Daily Trust, Wike accused the LP candidate of being ungrateful, recalling how he chose him to be Atiku Abubakar’s running mate for the Peoples Democratic Party presidential ticket ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He added that he was fought by people like former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Governor of Ebonyi, David Umahi, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim over his support for Obi.

He said, “In 2019, ask Peter Obi, I was part of the team that chose Peter Obi to be the vice-presidential candidate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. When we met at Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s house, he said these are the names and we chose Peter Obi.

“While we were at (Bukola) Saraki’s house in the night, I was fought by people like Ike Ekweremadu and my own friend, people like the governor of Ebonyi state, Pius Anyim, people were like why must I be the one to choose Peter Obi. Why must I choose for the candidates? Every blame was on me, why will I be the one that will say Peter Obi should go?

“Did he come out to say Governor Wike was the one who supported me to be the vice-presidential candidate?

“When he said I came out against him, it is unfortunate because nobody has ever heard me during my campaigns saying don’t vote for Peter Obi, I never said so. But even if that is the case, that I didn’t support you, you cannot say that I came out against you. I didn’t have any agreement with you in the first place.

“I take exception to Peter Obi’s comments that I came out against him. People are not being sincere; people are not appreciative.”