Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has disclosed that some people have now turned back to work against him after initially pushing and encouraging him to run for the 2023 presidency.

Wike on Monday revealed that the affected persons are some elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State who have now deserted him and have relocated to Abuja to plot against him.

He said the development back home is why he is not surprised by the outcome of the PDP presidential primaries in Abuja.

He stated that the highlighted persons are angry they didn’t get the Rivers State PDP governorship ticket for the 2023 election, hence the decision to work against him.

According to the Governor, they were the ones who approached him during his birthday in 2021 and told him to run for the presidency.

The Governor added that all of them except Senator Bari Mpigi disclosed their interest in becoming the Rivers State Governor after him and they all agreed to abide by whatever he comes up with concerning who should emerge as the eventual PDP candidate.

Naija News reports Wike made the disclosure on Monday while speaking during the 74th birthday reception organised to honour the former state Governor, Peter Odili.

The reception held at the private residence built and donated to him by the State government in Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt.

According to Wike, “On my last birthday, 12 midnight, one of our elders called me that they wanted to see me. They came to me and said they came to wish me happy birthday.

“Then, they presented me a letter that I should run for president. All of them including Dr. Abiye (Sekibo) signed the document.

“I say okay, you people too should go and give me someone who would be governor after me. They all sat there, looking left and right.

“I asked them, those of you who are interested to be Governor should raise your hands. Everybody raised his hand. One person didn’t raise his hand, Senator Bari Mpigi. I asked why he was not interested, he replied, sir, let me hold what God has given me. I don’t want to lose the two.”

Wike revealed further that the elders also signed a document in which they promised to abide by his decisions concerning the Rivers PDP governorship ticket.

He however said those not comfortable with his eventual decision have now turned round to accuse him of plotting a third-term bid and have therefore gone ahead to work against his presidential bid as a way of getting back to him on their failed governorship ambition.

He added: “Some persons don’t know the history. They go and tell all kinds of stories. But the truth is this, all of them (elders) signed the document prepared by O.C.J. Okocha that whoever I will bring, they will abide to it.

“But now, they went to Abuja, that I must not be vice president. I also read, yesterday when I was in Paris, one of them saying that I told him that if they do to me what they did to Dr. Odili that I will collapse the system.

“I am not an ungrateful person. And I will never be ungrateful in my life. What’s important is that I have done well as a governor. I am happy and I am leaving office a happy man.”

Wike while appreciating Odili for his advice and support in the situation disclosed that that is why he was not surprised at the turn of events and the outcome of the PDP presidential primary.