Politicians pushing Jonathan to contest in 2027 betrayed him in 2015- Wike

There have been speculations that Jonathan may contest the presidency,
for the second time of asking, on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

However, the ex-president has been mum on the subject.

“I know Jonathan very well. He enjoys being respected
internationally as a statesman and I believe he will continue in that role,”
Wike said during a media parley in Abuja on Monday.

He added that those calling for a Jonathan candidacy are the
same political actors who “played him” during the 2015 elections.

“People pushing Jonathan — what strength do they have? Were
they not the same people who worked against him in 2015?” he asked.

The minister insisted that the PDP must avoid making
decisions that could deepen its internal crisis.

“For Christ’s sake, nobody should create problems for the
party. When you cause problems, you are the one to blame,” Wike said.

‘OBI’S COMEBACK COULD
WRECK PDP’

Wike added that bringing Peter Obi back to the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), as is being suggested in some quarters, would cause
more harm than good.

The minister claimed that the former Anambra governor “once
described the PDP as rotten” and should not be allowed to return.

“Obi was abusing the party, saying it is rotten. So now the
party is suddenly good enough for him to come and contest on its platform?” he
asked.

The minister said it would be wrong for the PDP to open its
doors to someone who “publicly discredited the same organisation” in the past.

“That kind of ambition can make people even go to Satan’s
house,” he said.

Wike added that any attempt to bring Obi back to the PDP
fold would amount to “destroying the party further”.

“Anybody suggesting that Obi should return is entitled to
their opinion. But if you want to destroy this party, then bring Obi back,” he
said.

Obi left the PDP days before the party’s 2023 presidential
primary, stating that “recent developments in the party do not support constructive
contributions”.

On May 27, 2022, Obi joined the LP, where he became the
standard-bearer for the 2023 presidential election.

The politician recently pitched tent with the African
Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.

‘I WON’T RUN AGAINST
TINUBU’

The minister reiterated that he has no plans to contest the
presidency against President Bola Tinubu, despite the zoning of the ticket to
the south.

“I will not run,” he said.

“I have integrity and I have
character. My position is clear. There is no way my appointer is there, and we
are saying he should run, and then I turn around and say I want to contest?”