The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might become extinct if it fails to present an electable candidate to win the 2023 presidential election.
Governor Wike, who is a PDP presidential aspirant, said winning the 2023 general election is crucial to the survival of the party and he remains the most electable aspirant that can defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Rivers State governor made this assertion while wooing Anambra State PDP leaders and delegates to support his presidential ambition in Awka, the capital of Anambra State on Saturday.
He told the delegates that as a mark of honour he had to personally visit Awka to formally notify them of his ambition to become the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I didn’t send anybody to you, because I have respect for you. We have been in opposition since 2015 and if we don’t win this election in 2023, we can as well forget PDP. And so, everything must be done to win this election. No sentiment should be brought in and of all the aspirants, whether the person is from Anambra, Sokoto, Imo, look at all of us, who can withstand APC in this election? it is me.”
The governor reiterated that prior to the 2015 general election, some of the present presidential aspirants defected to the APC and PDP lost the presidency. He said it is ironic that after the PDP has been rebuilt and made formidable, those who abandoned it are back and jostling for the party’s ticket.
Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki and others had left the party in 2014, causing its defeat in the 2015 presidential election.
“I have challenged APC before. I have defeated them severally with the government in power. You know what happened in Rivers State. All I am asking the delegates is, if you really want PDP to win this election in 2023, just give me that ticket. Go home and sleep with your eyes close. I will win the election.”
Governor Wike berated the APC led federal government for its inability to stem the tide of insurgency and banditry in the country.
He maintained that any government that cannot protect life and property has failed in its primary responsibility and should be voted out.
He reaffirmed that if elected President of Nigeria, he will end the current spate of insecurity and return the country to the path of inclusive prosperity.
“Look the day I win the general election in February next year, anybody who says he is a bandit, let him wait for me. I will take the war to them.”
He urged the delegates to support him irrespective of their former governor, Peter Obi being an aspirant. According to him, he remains the only electable presidential aspirant that can defeat the APC in the 2023 general election.
