The governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike has subtly endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying he possesses a stable political character that makes him good enough to govern Nigeria.
Wike made the commendation when he received Tinubu and his entourage at the Government House, Port Harcourt, shortly after the APC candidate’s campaign rally in the state yesterday.
The governor who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said he was not answerable to anyone for his covert endorsement of the APC standard bearer.
Wike described the APC presidential candidate as a man of character and courage.
The attributes, he stressed, are what the country desperately requires now in her democratisation drive.
“I wish you good luck. I support the principle of fairness, equity and justice and that is what G-5 stands. G-5 does not stand for anybody,” Wike said.
The G5 is made up of five aggrieved governors of the PDP including Wike, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
The five governor have been consistent in their demand that Dr Iyorchia Ayu steps down as PDP national chairman as a precondition for them to support the presidential ambition of Atiku.
The governor advised the APC presidential candidate and the national leadership of the party not to invest resources in any of the party’s candidate in the state, because none of them will win any seat in the general election.
“I have no apology to anybody to say nobody born of a woman can intimidate me. You have never changed party one day. That tells of your character and courage and that is what we require in this country” the Rivers governor told Tinubu.
“But let me advice you; don’t spend any more money on your governorship candidate here (Rivers),” he added.
On the worsening trouble with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) currency redesign, Wike castigated the apex bank’s governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for disregarding the Supreme Court’s judgement on the deadline for the naira swap.
“The governor of CBN is disrespecting Supreme Court. Where has it happened in democracy?
“Supreme Court say do not do this and everybody is folding hands, begging CBN to obey Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court is not to be obeyed, what are you telling the people?”
Wike noted that the CBN’s flagrant disregard for the Supreme Court’s order on the naira swap policy should worry the APC-led federal government, particularly as the 2023 general elections draw nearer.
He maintained that the abrupt naira redesign and its implementation by the CBN smacks of pure politics.
He insisted that irrespective of the politics, the ruling APC must ensure that the general elections hold.
“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.
“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 streets?” he said.
Wike, who described himself as unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party, said it was abominable for two PDP states, Bayelsa and Edo, to join the federal government as defendants in the suit brought before the Supreme Court by some states challenging the naira swap policy.
Tinubu had earlier told Wike that the courtesy call was necessitated by his (Tinubu’s) sheer regard and admiration for his advocacy that power should rotate to the south.
He said he joined the race to lead the country on the philosophy which governor Wike had consistently advocated that power should return to the south.
“Our courtesy call, not to personalise 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 to that unity in Nigeria, you never advocated a division of our country. You followed history. You respect the country.”
He also said he and Wike were two political leaders of a kind in being fearless, consistent in character, law-abiding and not changing political platform against the odds.
“You never advocated division or breakup of our country. All your advocacy is about sharing of the cake we bake together. We are here to campaign on the philosophy you brought about when you said let power shift to the South.”
“I do not want to abuse anybody. I’m not here (in Government House) to campaign. It is because of your character, your belief and faith that when we came to Port Harcourt to campaign, we said we must pay you a courtesy visit,” he added.
