It is no news that before the 2023 General Election, a close-knit bond existed among the G-5 governors, namely Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikepazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.
All five members of the self-styled Integrity Group are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who broke ranks with the national leadership of the party for failing to honour an agreement to return power to the South.
The quintet entertained Nigerians with their colourful uniforms, usually the traditional outfit of any of their states whenever one of them played host to the others. They always travelled together and held press conferences together to regale Nigerians of their plans or the lack of it.
While their bromance lasted, it is pertinent to note that Wike and Makinde’s friendship stood out. While the others were more of lackeys to Wike, he related with Makinde as his equal, even though he is older and more experienced politically.
Long before Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu joined the group, Wike regularly interacted with Makinde on a one-on-one basis. Makinde paid him a few courtesy visits and he in turn invited Makinde to Rivers State each time he had an important event to host. One of such televised events was one that he hosted to mark Justice Mary Odili’s 70th birthday and retirement as Justice of the Supreme Court.
Fast forward to their pre-election charade. Of the five governors, Makinde was the only who commissioned a road project, the Woji road and Obagi street. Of the five, Makinde was the only who Wike deemed fit to personally campaign for in Oyo. One may argue that it was because Makinde was seeking re-election for a second term. Well the other three (Ugwuanyi, Ortom, Ikpeazu) were also seeking a place in the Senate and needed to appeal to the electorate. Unfortunately, they all lost.
Also, while Ortom publicly endorsed Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Wike and Makinde both settled for Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Party, APC as their preferred presidential candidate but however kept their choice close to their chest leaving Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu confused as to who to support. Makinde and Wike were the only governors who Tinubu considered significant to his campaign and personally paid them visits.
Well, one of the reasons why Wike is smitten with Makinde is because he is married to someone he considers his sister and that further drew him to the Oyo State governor. Makinde’s wife, Tamunominini is an Ijaw woman from Buguma, Kalabari kingdom in Asari Toru local government area of Rivers state. An engineer by profession, she has been married to Makinde for over 22 years and they are blessed with three children.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
