Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, exchanged words following the latter’s endorsement of Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate (PDP).
Dogara defected to the PDP just days after endorsing Atiku, who has been at odds with Wike since the presidential candidate chose Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
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Wike’s beef with the PDP and Atiku is based on his contention that the party’s leadership is pro-North and that the next president of Nigeria should come from the south.
Wike criticized Dogara for endorsing Atiku, saying the former Speaker agreed that the presidency should be zoned to the southern region in order for peace to reign. Wike was perplexed as to how Dogara could not stand by his words.
He said, “The same Dogara said the presidency should be zoned to southern Nigeria for there to be peace. Now, I hear about the same Dogara (backing Atiku from the north). Is that how you do things? Can’t you say something and stand by it?”
Dogara, on the other hand, responded to Wike in a series of tweets, claiming the governor is suffering from amnesia. The Bauchi politician accused Wike of imposing his position on others and stated that he will not respond to his tirade on live television.
Dogara tweeted, “To my brother, Governor Nyesom Wike; if there is anything you are suffering from, I never thought amnesia would be one of them.
“Why would you think no one, except you, is entitled to a certain set of principles he/she cannot compromise?
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“It’s such a pity if you cannot remember what our discussion and agreement was all about. Why should only your own position be respected and followed? I would never betray a friend and a brother, that is why I won’t respond to your tirade on live TV.
“The details of our conversation are sealed up with me but if you feel it’s okay to throw it to the public kindly give me a written consent to divulge it so that the public can judge who is saying the truth. Thank God there was a witness.”
