Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has criticised Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of representatives, for endorsing Atiku Abubakar for the presidency.

On Friday, Dogara, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and some northern religious leaders endorsed Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying he is the best option among the presidential candidates.

In July 2020, Dogara defected from the PDP to the APC, and said his decision was based on the “failure of governance” in Bauchi state.

Speaking on Monday at the flag-off of Indorama-Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebubu East/West link road, Wike expressed disappointment over the former speaker’s endorsement of Abubakar.

The Rivers governor said Dogara had claimed that he wanted the presidency to be zoned to the south, but had now turned around to support a northerner.

“What I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time, I would challenge them to a debate,” Wike said.

“Ask Dogara: ‘what made you leave PDP?’ Dogara was to see me. Unknown to me, he gave me an excuse and I was watching Dogara on TV being received by President Muhammadu Buhari that he has gone to APC.

“I said ‘Okay, no problem’. The same Dogara said the presidency should be zoned to southern Nigeria for there to be peace. Now, I hear about the same Dogara (backing Atiku from the north). Is that how you do things? Can’t you say something and stand by it?”

On Sunday, the media office of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), also criticised Dogara for supporting Atiku.

The Obi campaign council accused Dogara of double standards, and said he made a “grave error” with the endorsement.

Meanwhile, the former speaker’s endorsement of Abubakar followed criticism over the decision of the APC to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

By Ebunoluwa Olafusi

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