Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has clashed with a former governor of Niger State Babangida Aliyu over the latter’s statement.
In an interview on Channels TV on Monday, Aliyu said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar did not pick Wike as his running mate because the governor “insulted his way to power.”
He said: “You do not go around choosing people that will not complement you. You choose people who will complement your office. People that are ready to take over from you and will make you comfortable.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know if it is his temperament. Sometimes when you speak too much, when you insult your way to power, it does not always happen.
“I can count many people who he has insulted. People will say he is always speaking his mind. But there are times you don’t need to speak your mind.”
Reacting to Aliyu’s comments, Wike on Tuesday accused Aliyu of betraying PDP in 2015.
“In 2014/15, the same Aliyu Babangida was one of the those who, with other governors, were going round to bring down PDP. And of course he was happy he did that,” he said.
According to Wike, Aliyu’s insistence that his protege will be governor in Niger has seen the party lose the governorship elections since 2015.
