Tony John, Port Harcourt
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that ‘Nigeria is in a coma’ and that only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could salvage the country.
This was as former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has declared that he has the capacity to revive the fortunes of the nation.
They both spoke, on Wednesday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when Lamido visited Governor Wike to inform of his intention to vie for the position of the president during next year’s general election.
Governor Wike said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a party of strangers with no knowledge of the intricacies of development.
He said that the APC thrived in politics of mischief wherein it engages in high level intimidation, corruption and dirty political schemes to compel defection of PDP members to its fold.
In the words of Governor Wike, “If you decamp to the APC, you are no longer corrupt. APC is a party of daylight deceit. I am happy that one of those who left to bring a messiah, have realised that the so-called messiah they brought is no longer the messiah Nigerians expect. PDP is the only hope for Nigeria,” Governor Wike said.
The governor also noted that though the PDP made mistakes in the past, the Party remains the only platform with the commitment and patriotism to take the country out of the current situation.
He said the present political and economic situation in the country required politicians with courage to rescue the country.
Speaking further, Wike said those who benefited from the PDP since inception till 2013, before defecting, were the same people sponsoring negative propaganda against the party.
The governor described Lamido as ‘a committed and consistent PDP member’, who is courageous and has the capacity to confront the APC.
He, however, urged all presidential aspirants to accept the verdict of the party at the end of the primaries.
Also speaking, Alhaji Lamido, said he was presenting himself to take over in 2019, because the nation deserves to move forward.
He said that if given the opportunity to lead Nigeria, he has the capacity to unite Nigeria and set it on the path of growth.
Said he, “I want to run because I feel I can do it. I have the pedigree. We stand to fight for democracy and the restoration of Nigeria”.
Lamido said that he would work with other PDP leaders to transform Nigeria for the good of the people.
The former Jigawa State governor said that the APC was a party of hate and deceit, hence, it should be sacked in 2019.