Unity Of Nigeria Far Above Party Interest – Wike On PDP’s Zoning Arrangement

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has said the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) committed anti-party and embarked on self-destruction when they dumped the zoning arrangements entrenched in the party’s constitution.

Wike stated that the decision of the PDP leadership to abandon zoning, in clear violation of the Party’s constitution, was largely to blame for its defeat in the presidential polls.

According to him, PDP’s constitution in Section 7(3)(c) states in pursuant of the principles of equity, justice, and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation of elective and appointive offices.

The Integrity Group leader made the disclosure when the three Rivers’ senators-elect – Ipalibo Banigo, Barry Mpigi and Allwell Onyesoh, visited him at his private residence in Rumueprikom, on Wednesday l, to present their certificates of Return to him.

His words,
“We are proud to have produced the three senators. Out of 13 House of Representatives, they have announced 10, and we have taken nine. We believe when election is done in the other ones, we will also emerge victorious because Rivers State has always been with PDP as regards to the issues of our local elections.

“When our party abandoned the principle of equity, fairness and justice; when our party abandoned the provisions of our constitution, which is the highest anti-party anybody can do, they also have to pay for it. If your party constitution says this is what you should do, and you abandoned it, you have committed anti-party more than any other thing. Our own is unity of Nigeria, and that is what we stand for. Unity of Nigeria is far above party interest.”

The governor again restated that APC governors deserve commendation for their nationalistic stance that propelled the party to zone the presidency to the South.

He opined that the emergence of the president-elect of southern extraction was made possible because the premium APC governors chose national unity.

“That is why I said APC governors are my heroes. They came out openly to tell the world, to tell Nigerians, look, the unity of this country is paramount. We don’t want Nigeria to be divided. In fact, I was shocked when all of them came out and said we have had it for eight years in the North, let it go this way (South) for eight years, so we can have harmony, peace and unity.”

The PDP member disclosed that the emergence of a southern Nigerian as president elect in the just concluded presidential election will give the people a sense of belonging and cause Nigerians to live harmoniously together without any sense of alienation.

He charged the senators-elect to be nationalistic in the discharge of their legislative duties, by supporting policies of government that will unite the country and not to allowing pecuniary interest sway them from fighting vigorously for the interest of Rivers State.

However, Wike expressed confidence that the three senators-elect would not betray the interest of Rivers State and the country as some former senators did in the past.

“I want to appeal to you when you go to the Senate, talk about Nigeria, not party. Talk about how Nigeria will continue to be one. Support policies of government that will unite this country, and that is where we stand,” he said.

He urged the senators-elect to return to their various senatorial districts to galvanise massive grassroots support for the PDP governorship candidate, Siminalayi Fubara, whose administration is expected to consolidate on the remarkable successes of the current government in the State.