Lagos PDP Kicks Over Wike’s Endorsement Of Sanwo-Olu
* I’m Not Surprised By Wike’s Action, Says Jandor
THE Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the endorsement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu by his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, during the 22nd Conference Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, held in the state on Tuesday, October 18.
Wike had, while speaking at the event, said he decided to grace the occasion despite Sanwo-Olu belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding: “If Sanwo-Olu is not doing well, even if he belongs to my party, I will not come here. If you belong to my party and you are not doing well in governance, you won’t see me. If you don’t belong to my party and you are doing well, you will see me.
“Good governance is what I stand for. I will not regret to say that I am in support of you (Sanwo-Olu) for second term. Others should not waste their time.”
But in a swift reaction, the State PDP Chairman, Philip Aivoji, said Wike’s action was condemnable, adding: “It is not a welcomed development at all and it is not expected of a governor of that stature, a serving governor under PDP.
“No matter the quarrel, whether you want Ayu to be removed, I don’t think that is the best way to handle it. As for me and all the leaders in Lagos State, we query such utterances. It is uncalled-for and unnecessary. When you are in PDP, you stand by the party.”
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, said in a statement: “I would have expressed disappointment if Wike had attended any event with a speaking role without his usual rant of a drowning man who will clutch at straw.”
On his part, PDP’s governorship candidate in the state, Jide Adeniran, said he was not surprised by Wike’s action, saying the Rivers governor had never supported his governorship ambition.
Adeniran, who is popularly known as Jandor, stated during a television programme: “As a matter of fact, what happened should not surprise anyone but, in my case, I am not surprised because it is Wike. No one will express shock over what he said except you are not in this country.
“But for me, just like the party put in their statement, how can someone who didn’t support me with all his might within the PDP while seeking the party ticket feel he has the magic wand to take a decision for Lagosians?
“I became the governorship candidate without any dime from him, although he has supported Lagos PDP in the past. He supported someone else and I remember telling Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that his friend is not supporting me and I still picked that ticket.
“Nobody expects that a party man, a national leader will do that for any reason at all, but it has happened and there is nothing we can do about it.
“My worry is this, he should be our role model at his level, as a governor, his office should come with a symbol of decorum.”
