* Asks Buhari: Do you really want to do an election?
·Tinubu rather praises Wike as a man of character and principle
By Ignatius Chukwu
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of their party have been asked to advised to starve the Rivers APC candidates of funds, saying they would not win a seat.
This has raised eyebrows by political observers who wonder if those who contest elections do not need funds to try to win.
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Wike also asked Tinubu to ask President Muhammadu Buhari if really the federal government wished to do this election.
“Do you people really want this election to take place or not; or you have an agenda to truncate this election? I don’t know. Look at what is happening in Oyo today, Edo, Delta. See what is going on”, Wike asked Tinubu.
The rhetorical question was handed by Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who paid Wike a visit in Government House in Port Harcourt.
Wike asked his special guest to prevail on the FG to ensure that 2023 general election is not truncated.
The governor noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s flagrant disregard for the Supreme Court on the naira swap policy matter should worry the APC-led FG, particularly as the 2023 general elections draw near.
Tinubu was in Port Harcourt to speak to the Rivers people as his presidential rally. On his entourage were the governors of Kebbi (Abubakar Atiku Bagudu), Lagos (Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu), Ebonyi (David Umahi), former Ekiti State governor (Kayode Fayemi), Minister of State for Petroleum, (Timipre Sylva), and others. They were led to the governor by one of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s bitterest opponents though former aide, Tony Okocha.
Gov Wike, who thanked God that the APC presidential rally in the State was devoid of violence, however, expressed reservation whether the APC led federal government was interested in conducting the 2023 general election particularly with the lingering naira sway crisis.
The Rivers State governor maintained that the abrupt naira redesign and the consequent tactless implementation of the naira sway policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria smacks of pure politics. He insisted that irrespective of the politics, the ruling APC must ensure that the general election holds.
“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.”
Gov Wike took a swipe on the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, for his alleged blatant disregard for the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“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 street.”
Gov Wike, who described himself as unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it is 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 sway policy.
“For the first time I have seen a government procuring opposition to join them to defend their policy. A policy that is anti-people. You are now the ones procuring we (PDP) to defend something that is totally wrong. I have seen anything like this in my life. It is a big shame.”
The governor commended the APC presidential candidate for his steadfastness and loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari, despite the challenges he had faced in the ruling party.
Gov Wike, who is perceived as a Tinubu secret ally, recalled that between 2017 and 2018, after a 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 join the PDP.
“I came to your house in Bourdillon. I came and said to you, sir, look at the way the country is moving. There is no way we can allow the current president to continue in 2019. You now asked me, okay, what are the alternatives? I said sir, we have Atiku, we have Tambuwal, we have Bukola. You laughed. You said, look I will remain with Buhari. If these are your alternatives, I will remain with Buhari, that I don’t know them.”
Gov Wike commended the APC state governors for their insistence that power must return to the south after president Buhari’s tenure.
“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 enjoy being president.”
The governor described the APC presidential candidate as a man of character and courage. These attributes, he stressed is 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.”
Tinubu did not take an exception to the advise by Gov Wike that Tinubu and the national leadership of the party should not bother to invest any resources in any of the party’s candidates in the State.
This, according to him, is because none of them would win a single seat in the general election.
Earlier, Tinubu told Wike that the courtesy call was necessitated by his sheer regard and admiration for his advocacy that power should rotate to the south.
The APC presidential candidate said he joined the race to lead the country on the philosophy which Wike has consistently advocated that power should return to the south.
“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.”
On his part, the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, explained that he 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 APC’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.
He commended the Rivers State Governor on his advocacy that power should shift to the south. According to him, Gov Wike has by his stance on power shift, demonstrated that he is a man of conscience.
