There are strong indications that Rivers state governor, Nyesome Wike, may have pitched his tent with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wike, who spoke at the PDP Etche Local Government Area (LGA) campaign rally in Rivers State on Monday, accused the National Working Committee of the party of colluding with the opposition in the state.
The disclosure comes amid a months-long feud between the G5 or Integrity Group – made up of Wike and four other PDP governors (Benue, Oyo, Abia, and Enugu) – and the PDP leadership for its alleged disregard for equity, fairness and justice.
Since the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate in May 2022, the governors have insisted that the North cannot produce both the standard bearer and national chairman, according to the party constitution.
Speaking in a mix of English and Pidgin, Wike told party supporters in Etche LGA that trouble had come.
“Those of them in Abuja that are talking about anti-party [activities], we have caught them now. They are the ones doing their anti-party [activities],” he said.
“I have caught them now and I told them anti-party begets anti-party. You know we carried these small parties to court for failing to do what the law says – APC, SDP.
“The people in Abuja that say they are national have gone to collude with them to write our lawyer a letter that they should take their hands off, in order to kill the cases we filed.”
Wike added that despite having told the state chapter’s counsel to “remove their hands,” he has no problem with the case dying.
But the governor did not mince words about his plans to fight back.
“I will hit them back by tomorrow,” Wike said. “There is nobody that touches us that will not get a wound on his body. Anybody that says he will touch us in Rivers State, I will give him many wounds on his body – and we have started it.
“We are voting for our people here. Now [that] you have told us you are doing anti-party [activities], we’ll show you what anti-party [activity] is. We have caught them red-handed. They are the ones that started anti-party [activities].
“We didn’t do anti-party [activities]. Anyway, it has been in their blood. Now, they have shown their hands. You people should just watch from tomorrow what will happen to them.”
The former Minister of State for Education told the crowd not to cry for his political enemies, saying they are not “our people.”
“Don’t cry when armed robbers catch them because we will teach armed robbers a lesson. We will deal with armed robbers so that they will know it’s not good to steal other people’s things. That’s how we will deal with them tomorrow,” he said.
The governor also urged the party’s supporters to await the decision of Rivers PDP.
“So, Chief Emma Anyanwu, Allwell Onyesoh, Kelechi, [and the] party chairman, all of them will start work to tell you what we have agreed. Anything they say is our agreement, that is what we agreed. Heaven will not fall.
“These few days that remain, it’s a battle to the finish. If you say we won’t be there, you won’t be there either,” he said.
Wike’s Camp Declares Support For Tinubu
Hours after Wike’s outing at the Etche rally, staunch supporters of the Rivers state governor on social media began to announce their support for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
While some overtly tweeted their support for Tinubu, others simply changed their profile pictures to that of the former Lagos governor.
It’s about time!#BAT23 pic.twitter.com/NXzDEmwcuy
— Chris (@Topboychriss) January 31, 2023
The insinuation that Wike had thus declared his support for Tinubu has since generated varying reactions on social media.
See some reactions below:
I laugh Obiedients that thinking Wike was going to endorse Peter Obi. Wike 20k monthly SA has used obidient grow account.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????— OshodiLastBorn???????????????? (@EkoPataki) January 31, 2023
After all the visits, mobilization, meetings upon meetings. Retweets and even denying the Labour Party governorship candidate openly, yet he chose Tinubu.
It’s well. Wike was never fighting for the interest of the south. I’m happy most people can now see clearly pic.twitter.com/2dNxUUc1eb
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )???????? (@emmaikumeh) January 31, 2023
if Wike knows what's good for him, he should not endorse anyone ….just stay neutral n push for ur candidates jejely in rivers.
— Emmylex ???? (@EmmylexAfeks) January 31, 2023
Fair enough, Nyesom Wike is entitled to his own choice. Shebi, na this Rivers State wey I dey so? We shall see.
— Ugo Daddy! (@TheHugocentric) January 31, 2023
Wike is fighting for his political survival and his get-out-of-jail card is to support BAT. The post May, 29 when immunity is gone won't be palatable for him.
The game is to remain in PDP and gives tacit support to APC
Whatever happens, he knows reconciliation is easy with PDP
— Alli-Balogun H.Lekan (@allibaloo) January 31, 2023
My annoyance right now is not Wike declaring his support for Tinubu but it’s Jonathan being scared of declaring whom he’s supporting between Peter Obi, Tinubu and Atiku. We all know GEJ would never support Atiku. Nigeria politicians are so selfish to the core.
— Duke of Africa (@Allezamani) January 31, 2023
Seyi Makinde and Samuel Ortom won't have an issue joining Wike in the BAT camp. In Oyo, Tinubu being Yoruba does the trick. In Benue, the masses will rather a Muslims Muslim ticket than a Fulani (Atiku) that Ortom had spent years vilifying. It is the Igbo members of G5 I pity ????
— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) January 31, 2023
It was clear from day 1 after the shenanigans that Wike was only going to align himself with any presidential candidate with a sure pathway to victory. A career politician like Wike would have done all necessary permutations and support whoever can secure his political career!
— Pastor Who (@Marvy_olu) January 31, 2023
So the people who insulted Wike, will now start hailing him?
And those who hailed him, will now start insulting him?
You see how Nigerian politics is so fickle? You stick out your neck & look stupid for politicians who align for personal gains ans make you look more stupid.
— R.C.O (@RitaOnwurah) January 31, 2023
I woke up this morning to 'Wike to endorse Tinubu'.
Some people are already under tension because they expected Wike to support Peter Obi for President.
What if Wike turns around to endorse Atiku?
Don't kill yourselves over we Politicians.
Our decisions are 70% personal.— Prof™ (@OOlusore) January 31, 2023
