Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has urged the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to win the Federal Government to ensure the 2023 general election is not truncated.
Wike noted that the alleged disregard of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by the Supreme Court on the naira policy should worry the APC-led Federal Government, especially as the 2023 general elections draw near.
the Rivers State governor stated during a courtesy visit by the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu; his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima; APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu to Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Tinubu’s entourage included Kebbi governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Chief of Staff Babajide (Lagos); David Umahi (Ebony); former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva; Tony Okocha and others.
Wike, who thanked God that the APC presidential rally in the state was free of violence, however, said the APC Federal government is interested in conducting the 2023 general election, especially with the ongoing naira sway crisis.
“Do you want this election to be held or not; or you have an agenda to truncate this election. I don’t know. Look at what is happening in Oyo now, Edo, and Delta. Look what happened.”
The Rivers State governor said the sudden redesign of the naira and the tactless implementation of the naira sway policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria smacks of pure politics. He stressed that regardless of politics, the ruling APC must ensure that the general election is conducted.
“I believe your party should make this election. You are the person in power, make sure this election stays. No one can solve the corruption problem in two or three months. It is not possible. This thing is purely politically motivated.”
Wike took a swipe at the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for ignoring the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“How can you be the government today, a Central Bank governor who disrespects the Supreme Court. Where is that happening in any democracy? The CBN governor is thinking whether to obey the orders of the Supreme Court. Where is that happening?
“I’m not talking about the order of the Federal High Court, not the Court of Appeal, I’m talking about the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said don’t do this and everyone folded their hands asking the Central Bank to obey the order of the Supreme Court. Which country has that ever happened? If the order The Supreme Court was not obeyed, what he said to the poor people on the street.”
Wike, who described himself as an unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it was disgraceful that two PDP states, Bayelsa and Edo joined the federal government as defendants in the suit brought to the Supreme Court by some states challenging the naira sway policy .
“First of all, I saw the government asking the opposition to join forces to defend policies. Policies that are anti-people. You are now the ones who got PDP to defend the wrong. I have seen nothing like this in my life. Shameful.”
The governor commended the APC presidential candidate for his steadfastness and loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari, despite the challenges he faced in the ruling party.
Wike recalled that between 2017 and 2018, after meeting in Paris with former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and others, he was sent to persuade the APC presidential candidate to join the PDP.
“I came to your house in Bourdillon. I came and told you sir, look at the way the country is going. There is no way to allow the current President to continue in 2019. You are now asking me, okay, what is the alternative? I said sir, Atiku, Tambuwal, Bukola. You laughed. You said it looks like I will stay with Buhari. If this is your alternative, I will stay with Buhari, which I don’t know.
Wike commended APC state governors for insisting that power should return to the south after Buhari’s presidency.
“I thank the APC governors for standing firm in saying the unity of this country is more important. If you want to be president without peace, what is the point? You should be President when the country is united and happy to be president.
The governor described the APC presidential candidate as a man of character and courage. These attributes, he stressed, are what the country wants today in its democratization drive.
“Congratulations. I support the principles of justice, equality and fairness and that is what the G-5 is all about. The G-5 is not for anyone.
Wike advised the APC presidential candidate and the national leadership of the party not to invest their resources in any of the party’s candidates in the state because none of them will win a single seat in the general election.
Earlier, the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu told governor Wike that the courtesy call was necessary out of respect and esteem for the advocacy that power should revolve around the south.
The APC presidential candidate said he is in the race to lead the country on his philosophy, which governor Wike has consistently advocated that power should return to the south.
“Our respect, not to make it personal, is the respect I have for you. You have worked hard and you have expressed your commitment to unity and a critical part of unity in Nigeria, you have never supported the division of our country. You are following history. You respect the country.”
On his part, Adamu explained that he deliberately decided that power should shift to the south at the end of President Buhari’s tenure.
According to him, the decision led to the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.
According to him, Wike, with his stance on the change of power, shows that he is a man of heart.