Tony John, Port Harcourt

Governor Nyesom  Wike of Rivers State has declared that ‘Nigeria is in a coma’ and that only the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could salvage the  country.

This was as former Jigawa State  Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has declared that he has the capacity  to revive the fortunes of the nation.

They both spoke, on Wednesday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when Lamido visited Governor Wike  to inform of his intention  to vie for the position of the president during next year’s general election.

Governor Wike said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a party of strangers with no knowledge  of the intricacies of development.

He said that the APC thrived in politics of mischief wherein it engages in high level intimidation, corruption and dirty political schemes to compel defection of PDP members to its fold.

In the words of Governor Wike, “If you decamp to the APC, you are no longer corrupt.  APC  is a party of daylight deceit. I am happy that one of those who left to bring a messiah, have realised that the so-called messiah they brought  is no longer the messiah Nigerians expect. PDP  is the only hope for Nigeria,” Governor Wike said.

The governor also noted that though the PDP  made mistakes in the past, the Party remains the only platform with the commitment and patriotism  to take the country out of the current situation.

He said the present political and economic situation in the country required politicians with courage to rescue  the country.

Speaking further, Wike said those who benefited from the PDP since inception till 2013, before defecting, were the same people sponsoring  negative propaganda against the party.

The governor described Lamido as ‘a committed and consistent  PDP member’, who is courageous and has the capacity  to confront the APC.

He, however, urged all presidential aspirants to accept the verdict of the party at the end of the primaries.

Also speaking, Alhaji  Lamido, said  he was presenting himself to take over in 2019, because  the nation deserves to move forward.

He said that if given the opportunity to lead Nigeria, he has the capacity  to unite Nigeria and set it on the path of growth.

Said he, “I want to run because I feel I can do it. I have the pedigree.  We stand  to fight for democracy  and the restoration of Nigeria”.

Lamido said that he would work with other PDP leaders to transform Nigeria for the good of the people.

The former Jigawa State governor said that the APC was a party of hate and deceit, hence, it should be sacked in 2019.