Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Friday denied insinuations that he and members of his group known as G-5 have endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for the upcoming February 2023 election.
According to recent reports by a section of the media, Tinubu’s endorsement took place during a meeting he had few days ago in London with members of the G-5.
The G-5 which includes Wike, Governors Seyi Makinde(Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), were elected on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
There has been a frosty relationship between them and the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, in the wake of the party’s presidential primary.
Wike, who lost to Atiku, believes that the process was compromised, and had alongside with members of his group maintained that the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, a northerner, must resign and his position taken over by a southerner.
But speaking during the flag-off of the construction of Eneka-Igbo Etche Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, Wike said he and and his team travelled to London on December 25 on a short holidiay.
Said Wike: “They said I had an interview with BBC and that we have a deal with so and so. Meanwhile, no video, no audio. And some of you waste your time listening to such things.
“Don’t you know that when I want to do something, I will do it? Don’t you know? Do you need to speculate? You don’t need to speculate. They said there is trouble but there is no trouble. What we have is an introduction to the trouble that is going to come!”
“So, my dear people, I just want to tell you that whatever decision I will take, I will let you know. I cannot take any decision without taking advice from you,” the governor added, urging detractors to leave members of the G-5 alone.
“I just want to enjoy myself and my family,” Wike said, maintaining that he is not contesting an election next year and thus should not be the subject of speculations.
He also accused Atiku of holding secret meetings with governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and failing to keep to his promise of not having the PDP presidential candidate and the party’s chairman from the same region (North)
The Rivers governor maintained that when Atiku visitied him in his Abuja residence, the former vice president assured him that if he became the presidential candidate of the PDP, the party’s national chairman who also hails from the north will resign his position.
According to governor Wike, Ayu made a similar promise prior to the holding of the PDP presidential primary election.
“We’re not giving them conditions, but we’re only asking them to fulfil the promise they made to us,” he said.
He revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, knelt down before Atiku when he was going for his second tenure in office in 2003, and begged him to support his second tenure bid.
According to Wike, Atiku hinged his willingness to support Obasanjo on the condition that the then Minister of Works, Tony Anenih, resigned from office, a condition he said that Obasanjo met.
Wike said members of his group had not given Atiku any condition to earn their support, but said they are only asking him to fulfil the promise he made regarding the resignation of Ayu from office.
