Vote of confidence won’t save Ayu, says Wike

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, says nothing will stop the removal of Iyorchia Ayu as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On Thursday, the PDP national executive committee (NEC) passed a vote of confidence in Ayu and the national working committee (NWC), despite calls for the resignation of the party chairman.

Speaking on Saturday at a grand reception for defectors from different political parties into the PDP in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, Wike said those celebrating the vote of confidence seem to have forgotten history.

“I was watching, listening. They say there is one man called Secondus. They say he was dancing, celebrating that NEC gave their person a vote of confidence. He forgets history,” Wike said.

“Ask him, the same NEC through Aliyu Babangida, who moved a motion for vote of confidence supported by the same person, Ndude Elumelu, they gave him a vote of confidence. What happened? He left the office.

“We don’t fight and go back. If you like, you can have as many as 20 votes of confidence, it is not my business. My business and my team is to make sure the right thing is done.

“And the right thing must be done, whether today or tomorrow. So let nobody worry him or herself. If you are dancing, come home and dance. Come and mobilise for the person you think will win the election.

“You people should go home and rest. We know we are already waiting for the day set by INEC for them to blow the whistle. When they blow the whistle, we will know those who are in charge of Rivers state and those who are mere visitors to the state.”

TheCable had reported how party members, especially those in Wike’s camp, demanded Ayu’s resignation as a condition for resolving the crisis.

The call for Ayu’s resignation is said to be on the grounds that the national chairman and the presidential candidate cannot be from the same region.

But Ayu has described those who want him out of office as “children”.