Port Harcourt—Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has told the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, that his recent suspension of party members loyal to the G-5 Governors will not help the PDP in the forthcoming polls, according to the Nation newspaper.
The Governor particularly described the dissolution of the Ekiti State executive committee of the PDP by the Ayu-led NWC as an act of tyranny that would be challenged in court.
He dared Ayu to suspend him or any of the G-5 Governors and warned that the resort to despotism by the Ayu-led NWC would compound the headaches of the party ahead of the polls.
The Governor spoke at the campaign inauguration by the State PDP Campaign Council in Bori, Khana Local Government Area on Saturday.
Wike explained the dissolution of the Ekiti State working committee would be challenged in court because there were still members of the PDP, who believed in the rule of law and that the party should respect its constitution.
The Rivers Governor, who referred to Ayu’s punitive measures as total rubbish, said they had gone beyond such decisions.
He said: “Let me also use this opportunity to say to Iyorchia Ayu and his team, your dissolving Ekiti State Exco will not help you in anyway. Your suspending people will not help you in anyway.
“The battle line has been fully drawn. As I speak to you, we will do everything legally possible to challenge any decision we know is illegal.
“So, don’t think you can threaten people by saying so, so persons have been suspended. Rubbish! Completely rubbish. We are above that level that you think you can threaten anybody, intimidate anybody with whatever illegal decision you have taken.”
The Rivers governor dared Ayu and his co-travellers to extend the despotic tendencies to the G-5 Governors and see if they could withstand the repercussion.
He said: “So, we are waiting for you to announce my own and any other of my friend. Like I have said, when a man says you will not sleep, he too, will he sleep? Will Ayu sleep? Will those his cohorts sleep? So don’t worry, we have the capacity to pay back. We have the capacity to tell you that enough is enough.
“You are doing what will give you more headaches as far as this election is concerned. We are watching and we are waiting for you to announce more of my friends. When a man says you will not sleep, will he sleep too? Will Ayu sleep?”