TheCable

Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, has been criticised by the Congress of Yoruba Sons and Daughters within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his alleged insult of the Yoruba.

According to the group, Wike said the Yoruba were insignificant in the PDP and also insulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Dayo Ogunjebe, chairman of the group, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, demanded an apology from the Rivers governor.

Ogunjebe said the Yoruba will never play second fiddle to anyone, adding that the chairmanship position of the PDP “rightfully belongs to us” but has “ben sold to the highest bidder”.

“Our leaders are being mocked. Our symbols of truth and sincerity are now being derided, snubbed, treated with contempt and disowned,” he said.

“The irreverent, scandalous, arrogant and most myopic statement of the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, is the crowning of all insults upon our people.

“Wike, in his most arrogant and selfish swagger, openly derided our people as being inconsequential and of no practical political importance in the PDP.

“This is rather scandalous and very benighted. He even insulted our former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as a failure. This is an aberration.

“We, at the Congress of Yoruba Sons and Daughters within the PDP fold, are outraged, angry, disappointed, very sad and sickened about this very primitive utterance of Governor Wike. We demand an immediate and full apology from Mr. Wike for his gutter language against our people.

“In both financial and moral terms, the Yoruba people have been selfless, making tremendous sacrifices. (They have been) consistent and devoted to the growth of our party.

“But we have been cheated. We have been maligned. The chairmanship position that rightly belongs to us has been taken away. It has been sold to the highest bidder.

“Let Wike and the Yoruba betrayers at home know that we will never play the role of a second fiddle to anyone. We are proud of our heritage. We are proud of our achievements across this nation. We do respect the feelings and the tradition of other people. Surely, we will never sit idle while anyone attacks the collective interest of the Yoruba race.”

Bode George, an aspirant for the chairmanship of the PDP, had also cited Wike’s alleged insult on the Yoruba among the reasons why he pulled out of the race.