The Southern Youth Alliance (SOYA), an umbrella group of southern youths, has warned Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to desist from what it described as his “irascible outburst” against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the contest for the 2023npresidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
SOYA while also saying that Wike acted irresponsibly with his odious remarks, condemned the attacks on the person of Atiku by the Rivers State governor, stressing that he (Wike) is indeed causing rancour and division within the PDP.
It advised Wike to desist from making careless and thoughtless remarks all in his futile attempt to compromise the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar.
The group in a statement by its Rivers State coordinator, Ziad Fubara, noted that the comment by Wike was in bad taste and capable of causing unnecessary division in the party.
Fubara said; “The remark made by Governor Nyesom Wike seeking to discredit the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, a frontline politician and statesman is condemnable.
“We are a youth group and just recently expressed our endorsement and willingness to support the candidature of Atiku Abubakar in the contest for the presidential ticket of the PDP in 2023.
“It is our expectation that if Governor Wike has a presidential ambition himself or is supporting someone else, he should be focused on advocating for such aspirations, rather than always throwing gratuitous attacks at His Excellency Atiku Abubakar.
“It is not logical to affirm that the PDP will work with any candidate who picks the presidential ticket while at the same time you keep on making undecorated remarks at one of the presidential hopefuls of the party.
“What Atiku has said is what is normal for any contender in a race. Even a Primary School pupil will not answer in the negative if asked whether he or she would pass in a Common Entrance examination.
“Today, there are 13 PDP governors in the country. Why is Governor Wike the only one always talking about the 2023 election and consistently attacking Atiku? Why does Wike think that he can talk for the delegates of the party?
“As far as the primary election for the PDP presidential ticket is concerned, Governor Wike has only one vote. He therefore has no right to think and act on behalf of esteemed delegates of the PDP. He should simply mind his business and refocus his energy on constructive building of the party.
“We recall that the first time that Mr. Nyesom Wike was nominated as a minister under the presidency of His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan, there was a public outcry about the then president nominating a character with unprintable names as a member of the Federal Executive Council.
“We dare say that it is a shame that by his conduct up till now, and especially on his uncouth vituperation against an elder statesman like Atiku Abubakar, it is obvious what people say a home divided is a home destroyed.
We say this with all sense of responsibility that we shall stand as one indivisible party and we shall by no means tolerate any iota of mudslinging and divisive rhetoric.”
