Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday warned the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against succumbing to pressure from ‘planted moles in the party’ to move its national convention away from Port Harcourt.

He vowed to name the presidential aspirants allegedly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to scuttle the party’s primary.

The governor gave the warning when his Gombe counterpart and presidential hopeful, Ibrahim Dankwambo, paid a consultative visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.

Wike threatened that Rivers would teach the party a bitter lesson if it allows unnamed desperate contenders to thwart the hosting of the primaries in the Garden City as originally agreed by leaders of the party.

There have been accusations from the party’s trustees and aspirants that the governor is tilting towards backing a sitting chief executive from a North West state for the ticket.

But he said: “Let me warn the party, if you dare, Rivers State will teach the party a lesson.

"Those days have passed when they took Rivers State for granted. Nobody can use and dump Rivers State.

“No presidential aspirant can use and dump Rivers State.

"We never lobbied for it, we never asked for it, but it will boost the economy of the state. People will make money.

"Those who are against Rivers people from making money to improve their businesses will not get our support.”

The governor wondered why anyone who wants to be president would be afraid of a venue, stating those clamouring for a change of venue were ill-prepared.

He further threatened: “Nobody should dare Rivers State any longer. Enough is enough.

PDP should know that we are not a punching bag. We are not people you can use and push. We are not harlots. Whenever you want, you come.

When you finish, you push us aside. We will retaliate at the appropriate time.

When you go, tell your colleagues, the presidential aspirants.

We were not interested, but having given it to us, you cannot insult us.”

He stressed that there were misfits among the lot who were just capitalising on the zoning of the nation’s number one seat to the North by the main opposition party.

A member of the National Working Committee of the party, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Some of the party leaders, aspirants and their supporters said Wike’s utterances and actions since the choice of Port Harcourt was made showed that he is already working for the emergence of a particular aspirant from Northwest zone, who is also a sitting governor.

•Excerpted from The Guardian report

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