RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike said on Wednesday that speculation would have no bearing on the G-5’s choice of presidential candidate in the February 25 election.
The governor, speaking at the foundation laying ceremony for the Akpabu-Egbeda-Elele/Omoku road project in Rivers State’s Emohua local government area, urged the people of the state to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in all federal and state elective positions except the presidency.
Wike and four other governors – Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Samuel Ortom (Benue) – have demanded the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition for their support for Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate.
Late last year, reports surfaced that the governors met with All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the United Kingdom and agreed to work for his election victory.
However, all of the parties mentioned in the meeting rejected the reports.
This month, the governors are expected to announce their preferred presidential candidate.
He said: “Don’t make mistakes. All your votes, put in one basket. Carry all, give us for governorship; give us for House of Reps.
“Vote for us for the Senate. Vote for us for the House of Assembly. But president, we will tell you how you will do it.
“If anybody likes, say whatever you want to say. Say I’m working for a so-and-so person, it’s your business. That will not (influence me) or make me change my mind (about) where we’re heading to.
“So, if they like, they make speculations. After all, that’s why the word ‘speculation’ is there. People must speculate, so let them continue to speculate. And let them know, some of them who do not even have 25 votes (are) busy abusing leaders. When you finish abusing leaders, you will pay.
“We are here talking to our people; they are there in radio stations and television houses. We are here talking to our people. Anytime they come, ask them, ‘what did you bring for us?”
