A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, has dismissed claims that he is backing the governorship aspiration of the former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Graham-Douglas, who is one of the founding fathers of the PDP in Rivers State, declared that at no time did he endorse Wike to run for the governorship position in state.
The member of the PDP Board of Trustees said on Monday in a statement by his personal aide, Mr. Ken Robinson, that though he coincidentally met with Wike at a recent church service in Port Harcourt, the development did not mean an endorsement for the Ikwerre-born politician.
According to Graham-Douglas, Wike had expressed regret over the misunderstanding between them.
The former sports minister pointed out that their unexpected meeting at the church did not change the political principles he (Graham-Douglas) had been known for.
He said, “May it therefore be unambiguously stated that Alabo Graham-Douglas socio-religious reception of Nyesom Wike in the church service should not, under any circumstance, be interpreted as an endorsement. Alabo Graham-Douglas did not endorse Nyesom Wike.
“As a founder of the PDP in Rivers State and as a father, Alabo Graham-Douglas admonished Nyesom Wike to adhere to and abide to the advice and instruction of elders concerning the age long zoning arrangement of the governorship of Rivers State.
“The principle of zoning of the office of the governor between the riverine and the upland is non-negotiable. On the upland, the Ogoni group has equally not benefited.”
