The outgoing Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has declared that he is not going to run for the presidency of Nigeria again.
While addressing party supporters during the governorship election campaign rally yesterday, Wike asserted that power will shift to the North after eight years in the South.
Africa Today News, New York had earlier reported that Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election but his closest challengers have gone to court to seek redress.
Wike said the reason he fought for power to return to the South was not to become President, insisting that it was not about him but a matter of principle.
Read Also: Ohanaeze Berates Wike Over Alleged Rigging Against Obi
‘It’s not everyone that started a revolution that will benefit from it. I did it. I fought it and it doesn’t matter. Whether I become President or not is immaterial.
‘What is material is that power has come to the South. It must not be me. It must not be me. It’s a matter of principle.
‘If it finishes from the South, it goes to the North. I won’t run again. Because the South will finish in eight years and it goes to the North. Because it’s that principle of [power rotation] that brings peace. It’s what brings unity.’
Wike had fought against the national body of his party the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for fielding a northern candidate and ensured the party did not win the presidential election in Rivers State.
In another report, the leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural oragnisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday held a meeting with Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike to seek his explanations with regard to his role in the alleged massive rigging against the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, in the February 25 poll in the state.
The spokesman of Ohanaeze, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia made the disclosure that the Vice President-General of Ohanaeze (Abia), Dr. Kingsley Chidozie, led a delegation that met with the Governor at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Port-Harcourt.
According to Ogbonnia, Dr. Peter Aneke who was nominated to speak on behalf of the delegation thanked Wike for the cordial relationship that has continued to exist between him and the Igbo community in Rivers State, informing him that Ndigbo was unhappy with him over alleged widespread rigging and violence against Obi and his supporters in the state.
He wondered how an Ikwerre man would, in all good conscience, work against Ndigbo in the presidential race where the candidacy of Peter Obi is a low-hanging fruit for his people.