By Anayo Onukwugha
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has declared that he will not be vying for the position of vice president of the country as being speculated in certain quarters ahead of the 2019 general election.
He said though some of the presidential aspirants seeking his support have offered him the position of vice president in the course of political consultations, he insisted that the interest of Rivers State is paramount.
Wike, who spoke yesterday with journalists in Government House, Port Harcourt, said, “There are aspirants who have promised me the position of Vice President, but I said I will not seek the position. Not even in the dream will I seek that position at this point. I am a first term governor and the National Chairman of PDP is from my State and the South-South.
“These are mere allegations. People can carry rumours, but everything I will do will be in the interest of Rivers State. Nobody can use Rivers State as a tool. They did that in the past, but not anymore.”
The governor stated that the decision to host the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt was initiated without his knowledge, adding that he eventually attended a meeting where governors and presidential aspirants ratified the resolution.
He expressed surprise that a few presidential aspirants who never opposed the decision to host the national convention in Port Harcourt have turned around to sponsor reports against the venue of the convention. According to him, it is uncharitable to attempt to create the impression that hosting it in Port Harcourt will influence the outcome.
Wike said, “I am shocked that a few presidential aspirants who never opposed Port Harcourt as a venue would begin the sponsorship of media attacks on the venue of the convention, which was not initiated by us. When we say that there are moles amongst the presidential aspirants, this is one of the manifestations. A decision that is collectively taken is being contested through clandestine sponsorship.
“But if they want, the national convention can be held at Maiduguri, Yola, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano or any other city. A presidential aspirant that would lose, would lose. All the national delegates that will vote at the national convention will emerge from the different local government areas of the country and from the statutory delegates list. None will be elected in Port Harcourt.
Asked to comment on rift in Lagos State between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his godfather, the governor advised his counterpart to resist the godfather.
He said, “If it is correct that the godfather is against Ambode, I will tell him (Ambode) to resist it. I will tell him to promote the interest of his state. Godfatherism is not good. It negates development”.
Wike stated that in Rivers State, the immediate past governor sold state assets to his business partner, only to turn around to anoint the business partner to contest for the governorship position of the state.