As the race for the top job heats up ahead of next year’s presidential election, presidential hopeful Nyesom Wike says he will never settle for vice-president.
Wike, who is presently the governor of Rivers, told party chiefs in Benin on Thursday, “I’m not coming out to negotiate to be vice to anyone, I’m coming out to contest for the number one position in the country.”
He bemoaned the country’s pervasive sense of fear, claiming that Nigeria needed to invest heavily in intelligence gathering to combat insecurity.
The outspoken PDP governor claimed that one of the main reasons for the country’s chronic insecurity was the Federal Government’s inability to invest enough money on intelligence gathering to combat it.
“There is a need to spend adequate money on intelligence to avert insecurity in the country. You don’t wait to allow events to happen before trying to tackle them.”
Wike stated that the main criterion for a president’s success in Nigeria is his or her capacity to secure the country and protect residents’ lives and property.
“It, therefore, takes a committed leadership to ensure adequate security in the country.”
He claimed that he was in Benin to inform PDP chieftains and delegates that he had declared his candidacy for president the following year.
Wike stated that his accomplishments and antecedents as council chairman, minister, and now governor were all on display for all to see.
He predicted that if the PDP gave him the presidential nomination in the party’s presidential primaries next month, he would win the election.
“We must have a candidate who listens to the grassroots. I have the capacity to face the All Progressives Congress in 2023.
“Give me the ticket and have your confidence that we will take over power in May 2023. Don’t allow anybody to disabuse your mind from voting for Wike.
“We cannot continue to give excuses why we are losing elections.”
The presidential candidate went on to say that the narrative on “the disconnect” between government and party needed to be changed.
He believes that the government cannot do anything without the support of the party.
He stated, “Leadership should not be a cabal thing.”
The governor had already visited the palace of Benin’s Oba, Ewuare II, and promised him that if elected president, he would focus on reducing insecurity by investing heavily in intelligence collection.
He emphasized that economic activities, agriculture, and infrastructure investments could only grow in a secure atmosphere.
Wike recalls being in Benin one and a half years ago as the Director-General of Gov. Godwin Obaseki’s re-election campaign.
“I have come to Benin to talk to delegates of our party who will be part of our national convention on May 28 and May 29.
“The way our country has fared, Nigeria needs somebody that will see white and say it is white and see black and say it is black.
I have adequate expertise to face Nigeria’s myriad of problems if the PDP gives me the ticket, having served as a local government chairman, minister of state supervising education, and now governor.”
In his response, the Benin king praised the presidential candidate’s competence and skill, emphasizing his accomplishments as governor.
“Wike is our son, we love him and if I say so, I believe I am speaking on behalf of our ancestors.
“We will keep praying for him so that he does not come across anybody that will mislead him, misinform him, and may he and his family never come across harm.”
The Oba urged political leaders to promote and protect African culture and traditions, claiming that colonial masters attempted to eradicate African customs after learning that the Benin Kingdom and other African countries had superior administrations and civilizations.
Chief Dan Orbih, the PDP South-South National Vice-Chairman, also spoke, urging delegates to vote for Wike, whom he referred to as a “political elephant.”
Orbih stated that the country needed a president who would “tell it like it is.”
Nigeria is currently in a deep slumber, according to the party’s leader, and Wike is needed to wake the country up.
He remembered that the party’s most recent summit, held in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, decided that the next president should be from the South-South.
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