Abaribe Tackles Wike, Denies Receiving Money From Him; Says Rivers Governor Lacks Integrity

By Adesina Soyooye

The Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe has denied he received any money from Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Wike had, at the launch of the Abia Governorship Campaign and that of the National and State Assemblies in Obingwa, dragged Abaribe and dismissed him as a man without integrity.

He disclosed that Abaribe, just before he decamped from the PDP to All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, had come to him and told him he was going to leave the PDP.  Wike said he appealed to him not to, and asked him what he wanted. He said Abaribe told him he wanted money.

According to Wike, he called Abaribe’s Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, and told him that your brother was no longer leaving and wanted money. Wike said they gave Abaribe money, but that Abaribe left tye PDP three days later.

He, therefore, dismissed

Abaribe as a man without integrity, and asked people not to vote him to the Senate again. Wike’s friend and ally, Ikpeazu, is contesting for the same Senate seat as Abaribe.

But in response to Wike, Friday, on Arise TV, Abaribe said he has more integrity than Wike. He explained that when he got tired of the happenings in PDP, he left, but that Wike has stayed put in the Party, even though he is tired of the Party. He, also,   denied that Wike gave him any money and said he never sat down with Wike to discuss anything.

He also said that given Wike’s background as a lawyer, the Governor should be ashamed of admitting to a crime on national television by bribing him with money.

Abaribe: “No, he did not give me any money and I don’t remember anytime I sat with governor Wike to discuss  leaving or not leaving PDP.

“If I was someone that could be bought, I could have been bought a long time ago in this APC government but I rejected everything just like I rejected every blandishment they were sending my way. I walked out to prove that it is possible for you to walk out without being inside a system and destroying that system.

“I resigned my position as the Minority Leader in the Senate and Leader of the PDP because I was disgusted with the happenings in PDP, and I decided that I will not stay there because I needed to prove that I can win election elsewhere.”

Abaribe said Wike’s problem  stems from his loss of the presidential primary election and has, since then,  impugning people’s character, trying to destroy the  PDP..

Abaribe: “Between me and Governor Wike, who has integrity? Everyone of us who felt we were not happy with what went on in PDP left, why didn’t Wike with all the grouse he has, not walked away from PDP rather he wants to stay in PDP and destroy the party. Who now has integrity between me and Wike?”