Wike hits Buhari on state pardon for Dariye, Nyame, says consensus candidacy in PDP deceitful

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has hit out at President Muhammadu Buhari for granting former Governors Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye state pardon.

WesternPost had reported that the Council of State on Thursday, granted the former governors of Taraba and Plateau states and 157 others state pardon.

Wike who was in Minna, Niger State on Saturday to visit Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in continuation of his consultation for his bid to secure the party’s presidential ticket said Buhari pardoned both ex-governors so he could use them for the 2023 elections.

“He obviously wants them to help him during the elections, he wants Dariye to help with Plateau while Nyame will work for Taraba.

“If it is not for election purpose, why did he not grant pardon to the likes of James Ibori and Atuche,” Wike said.

According to him, the international community won’t take Nigeria seriously because of the action.

“I want to tell you that this government is very deceptive and they have deceived us enough. You have big people, you jail them after all the court proceedings and waste of money then you ridicule the judiciary by granting them pardon.

“How will the international community look at us with these type of things we do. Look at the amount spent in the prosecutions and you wake up one morning and mess it up all because of politics,” he said.

The Rivers governor also said he would accept and support whoever wins the party’s primary election, even as he tagged the calls for a consensus candidate deceitful.

“I will agree on consensus if it is based on equity, justice, and fairness because as it is, those who are talking about consensus are not sincere and there is nothing like consensus in our constitution.

“Whoever emerges as the flagbearer, I will do whatever I can to ensure that the PDP wins the election,” he said.