Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike and his group returned Monday from Spain and demanded an apology from the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate Abubakar Atiku over statements credited to him diminishing his opponents for next year’s election based on ethnicity.
Wike and his colleagues Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Okezie Ipeazu of Abia had gone on retreat in Spain amidst the leadership crisis rocking the PDP, while they were in Spain Atiku made a statement in Kaduna, which has ignited an outrage in the political terrain. Atiku said in a viral video: “I think what an average northerner needs, is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria, and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country. This is what the northerner needs.
“He (the northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin.”
Wike stated that such statements couldn’t have be credited to the PDP flag-bearer at this time of calls for national unity, adding that it is hard to believe, Atiku made such statement, Wike said: “I played it and played it when that video was sent to me I was really touched.
“We are talking about Unity of Nigeria and I cannot believe the PDP candidate could be making such statement, People are denying that the statement was not made, be it as it may, the Party and the Candidate need to apologise to Nigerians.”
He added that the development had confirmed why those in the opposing camp of the PDP crisis are insisting Iyorchia Ayu remains Party chairman.
Wike and Ortom