Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must apologize to Nigerians over its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s advice to Northerners last weekend.
Atiku while speaking at an event organized by Northern Elders last weekend, had said that Northerners only need a President from the North, and not an Igbo or Yoruba.
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”.
However speaking in Port Harcourt on Monday October 16, shortly after arriving from Spain, Wike said while he doubted the possibility of Atiku making such a statement at a critical time of the nation’s history, such disposition of the presidential candidate would justify his fight for equity, justice and fairness in the PDP.
The Nation reported that the Rivers state Governor also asked the PDP to urgently address the issue and appeal to Nigerians otherwise people would begin to see the party as one that lacked justice and equity.
