Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike says the fight with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has only just begun.
Wike made the remarks on Monday at the inauguration of the renovated Community Secondary School in Okoro-nu-Odo, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He stated that allowing anyone to preside over the PDP who was unable to deliver his polling unit, ward, local government, or state during the last general election was unthinkable.
“Ask them, those who want to be chairman of this party(PDP), what do you have to give to the party now? Presidential election; you lost in your unit, lost in your ward, lost in your local government and lost in your State. Which party will you preside over now?”
When the G-5 governors and members of the Integrity Group demanded Ayu’s resignation following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate, Wike said it was God who hardened Ayu’s heart.
He noted that if Ayu had resigned at the time, his “cohorts,” who were vehemently opposed to the zoning of elective and appointive offices, would have used it to justify the party’s performance in the recently concluded general elections.
The governor stated that it would be morally repugnant for Ayu to continue as the PDP’s national chairman following the party’s “catastrophic defeat.”
“Those of you who are fighting that they have suspended him, you have not seen anything yet. The fight has started. Ayu, the fight has just started. If you know him, those of you who are close to him, tell him, Iyorchia Ayu, the fight has just started.”
Wike stated that instead of Dr. Ayu using his position to strengthen the grip of the PDP in Benue State, he let it slip.
According to him, PDP-controlled states cannot financially sustain the party and allow Ayu to remain chairman.
“Will you preside over the one (Rivers PDP) I have secured victory for? You want to come and preside over this State (Rivers) so that we will begin to donate money to the party? You, bring your own State to the party too, so that your State can contribute money to the national. If you don’t deliver your State, you can’t preside over us. You cannot.”
Wike said already, some persons within the party were thinking of siding with Dr Ayu to fight back the suspension slammed on him.
He warned such persons that they will be doing so to their detriment because they would have consequences to face.
“If you like, let the National Secretary rush to Abuja. Let them meet this afternoon and say the suspension is illegal, you will see what you will face. You are calling us small boys, you will see what small boys can do to you.”
