Emmanuel Masha 
…rules out PDP automatic ticket for Obaseki
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been killed because those in charge are protecting APC’s interest.
Wike, who spoke at a media parley yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, noted that since the APC took over the leadership of the body in 2015, governors have turned to beggars.
The APC came into office in 2015. Since then the federal ruling party has produced two chairmen of NGF – former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
He also said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be willing to receive the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, into its fold, noting, however, that Edo PDP and the people of the state would decide whether he gets the party’s automatic ticket or not.
Wike said: “Before 2015, the Governors’ Forum used to be very powerful as symbols of their respective states, but APC killed it because they were protecting the interest of the ruling party.
“During one of the rerun elections in this state – Rivers – my security aides were withdrawn, thus exposing me to danger, the Forum did not say anything because the chairman was a member of APC.
“I told them then that what they were doing was wrong. Now they have become a Beggars’ Forum even when there are constitutional infractions.
“You can see that APC governors say that they are progressives. You can see how progressive they are when they keep quiet when a fellow sitting governor is disqualified from contesting elections.
“Adams Oshiomhole campaigned for Governor Obaseki four years ago. The same man has turned around to say that Obaseki has a defective certificate.
“Has Oshiomhole apologised to Nigerians that he supported someone with a defective certificate? Who is saying that a sitting governor has a defective certificate? Is it a man that does not have a certificate?
“Oshiomhole should be told to practice what he preaches. APC wants to perpetrate impunity in Edo State the way they unleashed terror in Rivers State in 2019.
“They think because they have the Army, Police and INEC they can do anything and get away with it. They tried it in Rivers State, but God gave us the will to say no. I hope Edo people will also say no to their impunity,” he stated.
On Obaseki’s planned defection to PDP, Wike said he would be happy to receive him, but that he would not guarantee automatic ticket for him because Edo people would decide.
“Edo PDP has a role to play. There is nothing like endorsement. But I must tell you that I am not happy the way he was disqualified by the APC because it will affect his integrity,” he said.
