Wike returns, speaks on consultations with Atiku, Obi, Tinubu, OBJ

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has revealed reason for the consultations with major presidential candidates in the 2023 elections and former President Olusegun Obasanjo among others.

According to the governor, the consultations are for the best interest of the country and are still ongoing.

Wike has been making headlines recently following his meetings with top politicians in the country including the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Bola Tinubu; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and Obasanjo, among others in London, UK.

The recent moves by Wike have left people speculating that the Rivers State governor may soon dump the PDP, which have been in crisis since the presidential primary which Wike lost to Atiku.

But speaking on Friday at the VIP Lounge of the Port Harcourt International Airport, after he returned to the country from London, Wike said his consultations with the politicians are for the best interest of the country.

He said, “What we are talking about is for the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It is not a parochial thing – being centred on a person or group of persons.

“We believe that what is going on will be in the interest of Nigerians at the end of the day. Consultation is still ongoing. Nothing we have said now has been concretised. Discussions are going on.”

He vowed that nothing would deter his camp from saving Nigeria from some leaders who only want to turn political offices into a family business.

“Leadership is not about you and your family. Leadership is about everybody. Somebody finishes eight years as governor, he brings his own son to be governor, brings his son to go to the National Assembly?” 

“It is only in this part of the world that you can see that. When we are talking about poverty everywhere? These are people who do not mean well for Nigeria,” Wike said.

He expressed optimism “that with the consultations that are ongoing, it will be a thing of the past”.

“No amount of insults, blackmail can deter us from doing the right thing,” Wike maintained. “So, we are poised for it and there will be no going back,” he added.

Wike returned back alongside Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State who were with him during his London trip.