2023: Wike declares for presidential race
…Says he’s best man to reclaim power from APC
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike has declared his intention to contest for the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike also revealed that he is the best man to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Wike made the disclosure on Sunday when he visited his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom at the Government House in Makurdi.
The Rivers Governor said he was making his intention to contest for presidency for the first time in Benue.
“To remove APC from power, I’m the person who can tell them enough is enough. We must take this power and I’m ready to take it for PDP.”
Wike urged stakeholders to give him their support and not to sell their votes assuring that he has the capacity to face the APC government whom he described as evil.
He lampooned those that claim to be PDP founding fathers saying after they ran away from the party, they still want to be recognised.
“By the time you ran away, you sold your share as a founding father so you can no longer retain your position of founding fathers.
“I stood for this party. I worked for this party since 1998. I have nowhere to run to and that’s why anything that happens to this party I take personally. I have never relented.
“In 2015, those who ran away made us lose election. Today, they are crying but some of us stood and said PDP will not die.
“Some people want to use Nigeria to buy back their personal business. They talk about private sector. Mention the private business that survive. Is it banks that your father had? Everybody is an employer of labour. Even in my house I have 50 people who feast from me.
“They should stop deceiving us. I have performed as a governor and carry my shoulders high anywhere. I have the capacity to face this evil government. Just give me the mandate. I will speak the truth to power and nothing but the truth. I have the capacity to move this country forward,” he said.
He promised that if elected, he will prioritise security among others.
“I am declaring it for the first time in Benue. We can talk about security in this country. Terrorists are wrecking havoc and taking off. It has gone beyond farm now. Security will be my priority. I did that in Port Harcourt. We will sit down and talk. Any police man killed in terms of fighting crime in the state, we are there for them.
He said security is not about sitting in the office and dishing out directives adding that, “I’m going to run for election and within the next three or six months, everything will be done.”
Earlier, Governor Samuel Ortom commended Wike for his numerous contributions to the growth of the party also lauded his support to Benue State’s displaced persons saying the people of the state would support him.
Ortom said he had been a vanguard on the southern presidency, and will support southern presidency.
