2023: What Wike Said During Meeting With Tinubu

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Wednesday commended the political loyalty of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Wike revealed that back in 2019, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had sent him to discuss with the former Lagos State Governor about joining forces with them to work against President Muhammadu Buhari but he turned them down.

The Rivers State Governor said after meeting with a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, in Paris between 2017 and 2018, he was sent to the Bourdillon to persuade Tinubu to join the PDP and work against Buhari.

Wike said Tinubu however chose to stick with Buhari.

He said: “I came to your house in Bourdillon. I came and said to you sir, look at the way the country is moving. There is no way we can allow the current president to continue in 2019.

“You now asked me, okay, what are the alternatives? I said sir, we have Atiku, we have Tambuwal, we have Bukola. You laughed. You said look I will remain with Buhari. If these are your alternatives, I will remain Buhari, that I don’t know them.”

As earlier reported by Naija News, Tinubu visited Wike on Wednesday at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.

Present at the meeting were some prominent APC chieftains including his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); David Umahi (Ebonyi); former Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi; Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, Tony Okocha and others.

Wike commends APC Governors

The Rivers State Governor commended the APC Governors for insisting that power must return to the south in 2023 and going all the way to choose a candidate from the region.

He said: “I thank APC Governors for standing firm to say the unity of this country is more paramount. If you want to be president without peace does it make sense? You must be president when the country is united and you enjoy being president.”

On Tinubu’s Ambition

While reiterating that the demands of the G5 Governors are based on the principles of equity and justice, Wike wished Tinubu luck in his quest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: “I wish you good luck. I support the principle of fairness, equity, and justice and that is what G-5 stands for. G-5 does not stand for anybody.”

Naira Swap Crisis

Governor Wike called on the federal government to address the naira swap crisis as he pointed out that the crisis generated by the naira swap policy and the decision of the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele to defy a Supreme Court order are capable of jeopardizing the 2023 polls.

“Do you people really want this election to take place or not; or you have an agenda to truncate this election? I don’t know. Look at what is happening in Oyo today, Edo, Delta. See what is going on.

“I believe your party should make sure this election holds. You people are in power, ensure that this election holds. Nobody can solve the issue of corruption in two-three months. It is not possible. This thing is purely politically motivated,” he said.

Supreme Court

Wike knocked the CBN Governor for daring to disobey the Supreme Court order on the validity of the old naira note, saying it’s a wrong signal to the people on respecting the rule of law.

He said: “How can you people be in government at this time, governor of a Central Bank disrespecting the Supreme Court. Where has it happened in any democracy? Governor of Central Bank thinking of whether to obey Supreme Court order. Where has it happened?

“I am not talking about Federal High Court order, not Court Of Appeal, I am talking about Supreme Court. Supreme Court said do not do this and everybody is folding hand begging Central Bank to obey Supreme Court order. Which country has it ever happened? When the order of Supreme Court is not obeyed, what are you telling the poor people on the street.”

More Knocks

Wike who described himself as an unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also called out the APC government over the move by two PDP-controlled states – Bayelsa and Edo to join the Federal Government as defendants in the suit brought before the apex court challenging the naira swap policy.

“For the first time I have seen a government procuring opposition to join them to defend their policy. A policy that is anti-people. You are now the ones procuring we (PDP) to defend something that is totally wrong. I have seen anything like this in my life. It is a big shame,” he said.

Wike also boasted that no APC candidate in Rivers State would win a single seat in the forthcoming elections and urged the national leadership of the party against wasting resources in campaigning for them.