Nyesom Wike governor of Rivers State has denied working against Peter Obi the presidential candidate of LP, describing him as ungrateful.
Speaking during a media chat on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Governor stated that it is unfortunate that Peter Obi claimed he stood against him during last month’s presidential election.
While denying asking Rivers people to vote for the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wike denied rigging the election to favour his preferred candidates at the Presidential, National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections.
He stressed that his goal was for the president to come from the South, adding that he never campaigned against Peter Obi.
Wike said: “I never told Rivers people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu but for the Unity of Nigeria. As far as Rivers State is concerned, it was a power shift to the South. And there are two candidates from the South, Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, so If the majority of Rivers People decided to vote for Tinubu and others for Peter Obi, that tells you the decision of the citizens.
“How can you talk about me rigging the election? I don’t work as ad-hoc staff for Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, so I am not in the place to rig elections for anybody. When you have INEC’s materials, you can talk about rigging.
“But I take exemption to Peter Obi’s comment that I came out against him, people are not being sincere and appreciative. In 2019, I was among the people who chose Peter Obi for Atiku Abubakar.
I was faulted for the choice, people like Ike Ekweremadu and my friend, the Governor of Ebonyi State and Pius Ayim. Every blame was on me; that why would I be the one to choose for the South East?
“Did he come out to say I supported him?
“I told Nigerians I will support a South candidate in the Presidential Election.
“When Peter Obi says I was against him, it is unfortunate because nobody ever told me that I campaigned against him. It is incorrect to say I was against him.
I told my people to support a southern candidate, which they did; the first position in Rivers State during the poll was a south candidate, same with the second position.
