Adedokun Waliyu 
The five governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dubbed as G5 have accused some “enemies of progress” of frustrating the party’s quest for the presidency in 2023.
Governors in the G5 group led by Nyesom Wike, Rivers governor, are Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.
The governors have been at the forefront of calls for Iyorchia Ayu to step down as national chairman of the PDP, on the grounds that the presidential candidate and chairman cannot be from the same region.
Speaking on Wednesday night when he hosted the G5 governors, Ikpeazu said the Integrity Group won’t back down until their demand is met.
The governors are in Abia to attend the flag-off of the 2023 campaign rally in the state.
“We have come under serious attack and very serious propaganda from all quarters but we are undeterred,” he said.
“We are determined to stand firm for the truth and soon, as the needful is done, I assure you that all of us will work assiduously to make sure that PDP wins the election in 2023.
“What we are preaching is not about our individual comfort but rather for you to see that we are saying the truth, laying a solid foundation for Nigerians today, and for our children in the future.
“I am an incurable optimist and I believe that soon, the voice of reason will sound in the ears of those who are yet to realise and see the wisdom behind our position and the things we are saying.”
Speaking on behalf of the visiting governors, Ortom said they cannot leave the party they all worked hard to build.
“All our States from Abia to Rivers, to Oyo to Enugu, to Benue, all of us are PDP states, and we are very strong in all these states, and we are committed to our party,” he said.
“We have teamed together to build this party to make it very strong and our intention is that we will take over governance in 2023 and build Nigeria again from bottom to top.
“One notable person that has made this party what it is, is governor Wike. Since he joined PDP, he has never left PDP. In 2015, when I was denied the ticket, l left, went to APC and grab the governor, came back to PDP, because PDP is home.
“So, we appreciate PDP. It is the platform we are working for in our various states. We are not going to be intimated. We appreciate the traditional rulers. You charged us not to be intimidated but to stand for the truth. That is what we stand for.”
“Unfortunately, enemies of progress came in. Because one thing that we believed as men of integrity, as men who believed in equity, fairness and justice was our resolve.
“All of us and many others who chickened out, especially from the south resolved that after eight years of rule in the north, we all know that in the unwritten constitution of this country, it was only right for the sake of justice and equity that presidency should come from the south. And that is what we have stood for.”
“Unfortunately, we have found ourselves where we are. But, we told ourselves, we are not going to leave the PDP. You cannot build a house and when a snake creeps into your house, do you abandon that house and run away to go and build another one?”
