Ahead of the 2023 general election, the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has had two different meetings in Paris, France and the latest in London, the United Kingdom, with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress Bola Tinubu.
Goldennewsng reports that Wike had also invited other APC stakeholders and Tinubu’s political sons to his state to commission projects executed by his administration.
Among those invited were incumbent Lagos State governor, Sanwo-Olu, House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and others.
With all the dining going on with Wike and Tinubu, not much has been heard from the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, APC leader in Rivers state.
Amaechi’s most recent political outing could be when he lost to Tinubu, former Lagos State governor in the APC presidential party primary held in June 2022.
Recall that Rivers State, APC publicity secretary, Chris Finebone an opposing force against Wike decamped to the PDP.
Speaking on what the relationship would be between Amaechi and Wike, if Wike decides to work for Tinubu, National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the APC, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, on Thursday, said:
“I don’t think it (Wike’s coming) will push Amaechi out of the party. Instead, it should unite both friends in the same cause, especially if both of them, one way or the other, are convinced that our presidential candidate will emerge victorious. Because the Wike I know will not engage in any meeting with Tinubu if he does not see the possibility of Tinubu emerging as the President. Nobody wants to belong to the losing camp.”
Arodiogbu said it will be a reunion of old-time friends who were separated by political interests.
“I see the possibility of them working together since both of them believe that Tinubu will be the next President of Nigeria. They were friends and I believe that if they have the room to work together, they will not hesitate,” he added.
Also, Adebayo Shittu, A former Minister of Communication, and Director General of Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Coalition for Good Governance said it may not work well following that Amaechi had been silent with political happenings in the state and the APC.
“He has been very lukewarm, hoping that a miracle will turn things in his favour. If it eventually happens (defection), Wike will push him aside and we all know that he is smart.
“Wike is currently busy playing psychological warfare against the PDP and leaving them to second guess if he will leave the party or not. His mission is simply vendetta against the PDP, just to ensure they lose votes to teach them a lesson,” he stated.
Hope may come on August 31, according to Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, APC chieftain in Rivers State, who told Punch that a strategic political meeting has been called to address some issues before the official campaign kicks off.
“The special invitation to the strategic meeting of all 2023 APC Presidential Aspirants, which will be held at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, by 2 pm is to brainstorm on adopting winning campaign strategies that will carry every Nigerian along and address the challenges bedevilling our country.”
Those expected at the parley also include a former Science and Technology Minister, Ogbonnaya Onu; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.
Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) were also listed among the aspirants expected at the meeting.
Others are the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; a former Ogun State governor and serving senator, Ibikunle Amosun; a serving senator, Ajayi Boroffice; former Zamfara Governor, Ahmad Sani; former Imo State Governor and serving senator, Rochas Okorocha; a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Tunde Bakare; Dr Nicolas Felix; former Information Minister, Ikeobasi Mokelu; Tein Jack-Rich and Uju Ken-Ohanenye.
