P/HARCOURT- Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has lamented that his ef­fort for amicable resolution of the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been frustrated by some party stalwarts.

Governor Wike has mean­while declared that nobody can convince him to change his stance that the PDP should yield its national chairmanship position to Southern Nigeria.

He made the assertion when he hosted Cross River State PDP governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, House of Assembly candidates and PDP local government party chair­men at his private residence in Rumueprikom on Wednesday night.

The governor, during the meeting which was attended by the party’s South-South Na­tional Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, explained that the seeming intractable crisis in the party had lingered because some vested interests, whom he described as “hyenas and rent seekers,” have remained obstinate and averse to justice, fairness and equity in the par­ty.

“We have finished presi­dential primaries, we have a presidential candidate. Is Wike saying remove presidential can­didate? Is Wike saying remove vice presidential candidate? So, what are you begging me for? All I am saying, and I will continue to say is that you have taken president, give us (nation­al) chairman.

“Nobody wants to speak the truth. If I am saying remove the presidential candidate, if I am saying remove the vice presi­dential candidate, then you will say why is he doing this.”

Governor Wike maintained that he cannot be convinced to support the current status quo, where the PDP presidential candidate, national chairman and the director-general of the presidential campaign council are all from the North.

According to him, refusal to cede the national chairman position to the South, will be a recipe for crisis.

“He (national chairman) said if the presidential candi­date comes from the North, he will resign, which means he has had this in mind. Now, the thing has come to reality, now resign, no. And people are saying go and talk to Wike.

“I’ve accepted the presiden­tial candidate, I have accepted the vice presidential candidate, what’s the problem again. You, fulfil your part. Let the South have something, that is all I’m preaching. You cannot have presidential candidate, national chairman, director-general of the campaign.”

The governor said it is hypocritical for some people in the PDP to criticise Mus­lim-Muslim ticket, while supporting that a particular region of the country should retain the presidency for an­other eight years.

He insisted that for the sake of holistic peace, PDP should adhere to the tenets of its con­stitution, which explicitly rec­ommends that when a presiden­tial candidate emerges from the North, the national chairman should be from the South.

The governor said the clam­our for the chairmanship of the PDP to be zoned to the South will persist until justice, fairness and equity prevail in the PDP.

“This is period that power game is being played. If you don’t have it now, forget it. If anybody tells you, let (Iyorchia) Ayu resign after election is con­ducted, then you are a foolish person. This is the time decision is being made. This is the time the presidential candidate, na­tional chairman and the leader of campaign will sit, when elec­tion is won in February, before the president is sworn in, deci­sions would have been made.”

The governor disclosed that he has commenced full blown politicking ahead of the 2023 general elections, adding that those who want to undermine him and his allies will be doing so at their own peril.

He thanked Cross River PDP delegates for the support given to him during the presidential primary. According to him, he will remain eternally grateful to them and all the other delegates that voted for him.

“If there is nothing I achieved, I can go home and sleep that I won Cross River State. Not only did I win, I won very well. I feel so happy and that tells you of people who have character of steadfastness. Peo­ple who will never be pushed around for whatever it is. People who believe in the principles of life, people who believe in fair­ness, justice and equity.”

Governor Wike said the visit will spur him to continue to support the party in Cross River ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He used the occasion to an­nounce the donation of 25 buses to the party.

“This visit will spur me the more to give you support. I am not coming to Cross River to vote, but you are my friends. I have a right to support you.”