Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday recalled how the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, turned down offers to work against President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection in 2019.
Wike said after meeting with a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, in Paris between 2017 and 2018, he was sent to the Bourdilion, to persuade Tinubu to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and work against Buhari.
Despite the challenges he faced in the ruling party, the governor praised Tinubu for his steadfastness and loyalty to President Buhari.
Tinubu, his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, and APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu paid him a visit at Government House in Port Harcourt.
Governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), David Umahi (Ebonyi), former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Timipre Sylva, and Tony Okocha were among Tinubu’s entourage.
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 will enjoy being president.”
The governor described the APC presidential candidate as a man of character and courage, saying such attributes were what the country desperately required.
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.”
Wike praised the APC governors for insisting that power return to the South following President Buhari’s tenure.
He urged Tinubu to persuade the Federal Government not to postpone the 2023 general election.
Wike stated that the Central Bank’s flagrant disregard for the Supreme Court’s ruling on the naira swap policy should concern the APC-led Federal Government ahead of the upcoming election.
Wike, who thanked God that the APC presidential rally in the state was peaceful, questioned whether the APC-led Federal Government was interested in holding the election, especially given the lingering naira swap crisis.
He said: “Do you people really want this election to take place or not; or do you have an agenda to truncate this election? I don’t know. Look at what is happening in Oyo, Edo, and Delta. See what is going on.”
The Rivers State governor insisted that the CBN’s abrupt naira redesign and rash implementation of the naira swap policy smacked of pure politics.
He insisted that, regardless of politics, the ruling APC must ensure the election’s integrity.
He said: “I believe your party should make sure this election holds.” You are the ones in charge. 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.”
Wike took a swipe at the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for his blatant disregard for the Supreme Court.
He said: “How can you people be in government at this time, governor of a Central Bank disrespecting the Supreme Court. Where has it occurred in a democracy? The Governor of the Central Bank is debating whether to obey the Supreme Court’s order. Where has it happened?”
“I am not talking about Federal High Court order, not Court Of Appeal. I am talking about the Supreme Court. Supreme Court said do not do this and everybody is folding hands begging Central Bank to obey the Supreme Court order. Which country has it ever happened to? When the order of the Supreme Court is not obeyed, what are you telling the poor people on the street?”
Wike, who described himself as an unrepentant PDP member, said it was abominable for two PDP states, Bayelsa and Edo, to join the Federal Government as defendants in the suit filed by some states challenging the naira swap policy in the Supreme Court.
“For the first time, I have seen a government enlist opposition to defend its policy,” he said. This is an anti-people policy. You are now the ones forcing us (the PDP) to defend something that is completely false. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. “It’s a real shame.”
Tinubu said: “Our courtesy call, not to personalize it, is out of the respect I have for you. You worked hard and you voiced loudly your commitment to unity and the critical part of that unity in Nigeria, you never advocated a division of our country. You followed history. You respect the country.”
Senator Adamu explained that APC had deliberately resolved that power should rotate to the South at the end of President Buhari’s tenure.
According to him, the decision resulted in the emergence of Tinubu as the presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
He commended the Rivers State governor for his advocacy that power should shift to the South.
According to him, Wike had by his stance on power shift, demonstrated that he was a man of conscience.