The governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike has passed a damning verdict on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum led by the All Progressive Congress (APC) describing it as a “toothless bulldog” and “beggars’ forum.”
His criticism of the forum came in the wake of the disqualification of the incumbent APC governor of do State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki from contesting the June 22 primary of the party and the inability of the governors’ association to rise in defence of their colleague.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference held in Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike said the NGF had become ineffective and lost its focus in defending the rule of law.
He added that prior to 2015, the forum used to be non-partisan but a rallying voice on national issues.
However, he said since the APC took over the NGF in 2015, governors have been turned into beggars.
“Before 2015, the governors’ forum used to be very powerful as symbols of their respective states but APC killed it because they were protecting the interest of the ruling party.
“During one of the rerun elections in this state, my security aides were withdrawn thus exposing me to danger, the Forum did not say anything because the chairman was a member of APC.
“I told them then that what they were doing was wrong. Now they have become a beggars’ forum even when there are constitutional infractions.
“You can see that APC governors say that they are progressives. You can see how progressive they are when they keep quiet when a fellow sitting governor is disqualified from contesting elections,” he said.
Wike faulted the disqualification of Obaseki’s following his (Obaseki) protracted political war with the national chairman of the APC and former governor of the state, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.
He said it was unthinkable that the same Oshiomhole who campaigned for Obaseki four years earlier and described him as a product of Nigeria’s premier university would now turn around to say Obaseki’s academic credentials are issues-ridden.
“Oshiomole campaigned for Governor Obaseki four years ago. The same man has turned around to say that Obaseki has a defective certificate.
“Obaseki was presented by the APC national chairman when he (Oshiomhole) was governor. I was watching a video where Oshiomhole described him as a product of Nigeria’s premier university, who went to the U.S. and came back with a Masters degree.
“Has Oshiomole apologised to Nigerians that he supported someone with a defective certificate? Who is saying that a sitting governor has a defective certificate? Is it a man that does not have a certificate?
“Oshiomole should be told to practise what he preaches. APC wants to perpetuate impunity in Edo State the way they unleashed terror in Rivers State in 2019.
“They think because they have the army, police and INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) they can do anything and get away with it.
“They tried it in Rivers State but God gave us the will to say no. I hope Edo people will also say no to their impunity,” said Wike.
The governor said he would be happy to receive Obaseki if he defects from APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but said he could not guarantee him an automatic ticket in PDP as that is left for the Edo people to decide.
However, he said Obaseki was yet to indicate that that he wanted to join PDP.
“Yes, he came to see me; both of us are south-south governors. We sat down and discussed issues, sought opinions and compared notes. He has not said he wants to come to PDP; he is meeting with us and holding discussions to determine, but I will be happy if he comes.
“Edo PDP has a role to play. There is nothing like an endorsement. But I must tell you that I am not happy the way he was disqualified by the APC because it will affect his integrity,” the governor said.
It would be recalled that Obaseki met with Wike in Port Harcourt on Sunday and thereafter travelled to Uyo to meet with the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
Both Wike and Emmanuel are PD governors.
Obaseki’s meeting with the two governors lends credence to the speculations that he was weighing the option of defecting to the PDP to actualise his second term ambition.
