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Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has warned the presidential candidate of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, to restrain his attack dogs from insulting the group of five Governors (G-5) known as the Integrity Group.
The Governor said the G-5 would fight back if Atiku’s men who he described as miscreants and members of the presidential campaign council, haul insults at the integrity group again.
Wike spoke during the kick-off of Indorama-Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebubu-East/West Link Road in Eleme Local Government Area on Monday.
He said: “We need peace in this state and we would continue to keep the peace but nobody can take us for a ride. Rivers State cannot be a slave to anybody.
“What I want to tell the presidential candidate of the PDP, we need peace, we want all of us to be together for the party to win the general elections but let me say clearly, if your boys continue to fight the leaders of our party, we would fight back.
“If anybody in the PDP presidential campaign council continues to insult the governors of the integrity group, we would fight back. Enough is enough.
“We want peace and we want equity, fairness and justice. Nobody should take us for granted. I cannot understand people, who just left APC recently are talking about PDP that we stayed and suffered to build the party. Even if anybody should talk about us, it is not these miscreants.”
The Governor also lambasted a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Yakubu Dogara, for backing Atiku against his earlier stance on Southern Presidency in 2023.
Wike wondered why some leaders would not say something and stick to it saying such people lacked character and integrity.
The Governor said soon, he would reveal the content of the discussion Dogara and Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Federal Government had with him at his residence when they visited.
He said: “At the appropriate time I will talk about how Dogara and Babachir visited me and what we agreed. You know what I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time, I will challenge them for a debate.”
He recalled how Dogara had evaded an appointment they were to have and surreptitiously left the PDP to join the APC.
He said: “What I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time, I would challenge them to a debate. Ask Dogara, what made you leave PDP?
“Dogara was to see me; unknown to me, he gave me an excuse and I was watching Dogara on TV being received by President Muhammadu Buhari that he had gone to APC. I say ‘Okay, no problem’.
“The same Dogara said the Presidency should be zoned to southern Nigeria for there to be peace. Now, I hear about the same Dogara (is endorsing Atiku from the north for the presidency). Is that how you do things? Can’t you say something and stand by it?”
