The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as its presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to apologize to Nigerians over his recent comment concerning other ethnicity in the country.
According to Wike, Atiku and the entire party owes Nigerians an apology while expressing utmost disbelieve that a presidential candidate could make such statement.
Recall that Truthlive.net had reported on Saturday that Atiku had during a chat with Arewa committee in Kaduna asserted that the north does not need Yoruba or Igbo candidates for the presidential position thus posing himself as the only worthy candidate on the basis of his being a northerner.
The statement which has since been condemned by a number of people who see his ideology as a threat to unity of the country
He said, “I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria, and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.
“This is what the northerner needs. He (the northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin.”
Reacting to Atiku’s statement, Governor Wike said while he doubts the possibility of Atiku making such a sensational statement at this critical time of the Nation’s history, such posture would justify his fight for equity, justice and fairness in the PDP.
Wike Added: “the party must urgently address the issue and appeal to Nigerians lest the people stop rallying behind the PDP and begin to see the party as one where justice and equity do not abound.”
The Rivers State Governor challenged the National Chairman of the Party, Iyorchia Ayu on his defense of the corruption allegations he leveled against him and condemned as ridiculous, the recommendations of the party’s Board of Trustees on the crisis in the PDP.