The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has blasted senators and House of Representatives members elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for failing to support the party’s choice for the National Assembly leadership positions.
The PDP endorsed Sen. Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South) and Hon. Umaru Bago for the Senate Presidency and Speakership positions respectively.
While the party has 46 senators in the senate, Ndume secured only 28 votes, losing to Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APC – Yobe North), who secured 79 votes.
Immediate-past Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu also lost his bid to retain the position, securing only 37 votes against his challenger, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (APC – Delta Central) who scored 68 votes.
Despite the PDP having 140 members in the House, Bago only managed to secure 76 votes, losing to Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who romped to victory with 281 votes.
Reports say that Wike had personally mobilised the PDP senators and House members ahead of the election day.
Reacting on Friday to the apparent refusal of some of the PDP members in the Assembly to toe the party line, Wike said they sold “out themselves for one plate of porridge.’’
According to The Nation, the Rivers governor said this while receiving visiting Bishops of the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
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He said he was not disappointed at the apparent betrayal, adding that only God could be trusted.
He said: “I don’t trust any human being. It is difficult for me to give 100 percent trust that a man will continue to be like this or like that.
‘’The only person that cannot change is God. For human beings, they can always change. That is why they are human beings.
‘’You can trust a human being but be careful to open your eyes, because anything can happen.”
Wike added: “So as a politician, one group you must watch very carefully are the politicians. They are easily swayed. Some believe. When they believe, they believe.
‘’Something can entice politicians and they change. If you watch what happened at the National Assembly, you can see that this attitude of politicians.
“You see the party has a position, before you know it, they are selling out themselves for one plate of porridge.
“This one has a case and he wants them to withdraw the case. These things we know and we are guided about it.
‘’I will never let my guard down to say everybody is with me. The only person I can be comfortable with at all times is God. If it is human being, no.”