From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

Former secretary to government of the federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, has said he did not oppose the nomination of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate in 2019.

Anyim, in a statement, he personally signed, faulted the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that he was among South East leaders that kicked against Obi’s choice as Atiku Abubakar running mate in 2019.

He explained that he never attended any of the meetings held in the aftermath of the protestation by some South East PDP leaders over Obi’s nomination.

“My attention has been drawn to a statement by Wike during his media chat on March 22, 2023. In a response to a claim that he came after former governor Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, Governor Wike recounted how he made it possible for Obi to be PDP vice presidential candidate in 2019 and tha Obi was not appreciative.

“In Wike’s words: ‘I was fought by people like Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Dave Umahi and Anyim’.

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“I would have ignored this misspeak by Governor Wike, hoping that the Pius Anyim referred to is not myself. But reading it on Page 26 of Daily Sun of March 23, 2023, confirms to me that I may be the one referred to, hence the need to put the records straight.

“It is my wish for Governor Wike to refresh his memory, re-collect and re-confirm the following: That I did not attend the PDP presidential primary of 2019 held in Port-Harcourt.

“That after Obi’s nomination as running mate raised some dust in the South East, PDP governors and party leaders from the South East met on the matter in Ekweremadu’s home in Enugu. I was not at that meeting.

“Thereafter, the presidential candidate, Atiku held a town hall meeting with PDP leaders from the South East at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu. I did not also attend that meeting. 

“I  want to state clearly, for Governor Wike’s recollection, that I did not and never share any view with him on any candidate in 2019; neither his own candidate, who then was Aminu Tambuwal nor Atiku who won the primary, talk-less of Obi. I did not know how Obi emerged as PDP vice presidential candidate and I never cared to ask but maintained a stand that the reaction that followed his nomination would also have happened to any other person from the South East.

“Wike may need to confirm from Obi that from the beginning to the end of 2019 elections, he enjoyed my encouragement and goodwill.”