July 1, (THEWILL) – A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, has debunked reports that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in France.
Some Media (not THEWILL) had reported that Wike met the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu, in France on Wednesday, for a political meeting, fueling speculations that the Rivers governor might have perfected plans to defect from the PDP.
The speculations may not be unconnected with issues over the selection of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP, by Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the party for the 2023 general elections.
A panel constituted by the PDP for the selection of a running mate for Atiku had recommended Wike, who came second during the presidential primary of the party.
But the former Vice-President had picked Okowa against the recommendation of the party’s committee.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had Wednesday on Arise TV, berated Atiku for jettisoning the recommendation of a committee he constituted.
“Fourteen of us in the committee said the person should be Nyesom Wike, unfortunately Atiku picked Okowa in is his wisdom. You cannot ignore a decision of a committee you set up yourself and expect people to be happy”, he said.
The Benue Governor had said he awaits further directives from God for any decision to support Atiku’s presidential bid.
Similarly, a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, also on Wednesday, insisted that the southern part of the country must produce the next president of the country.
On Thursday, Joe Igbokwe, an APC chieftain in Lagos State, claimed on Facebook, that Wike met with Tinubu in France.
But reacting to the claim on Friday, Maina, a former Minister of Police Affairs, said he has been with the Rivers State Governor on Wednesday, in Istanbul, Turkey.
He touted Igbokwe as fake news carrier and urged Nigerians to disregard the propaganda by the APC.
”Governor Wike came directly from Nigeria to Istanbul, Turkey. He did not go to France as speculated. This is to debunk the propaganda of the APC through Igbokwe. This is fake news, orchestrated by the sinking ruling party, which is on its way out”, he said in a phone chat with Daily Trust.
Asked what their mission to Istanbul is, he said; “We came to rest after our national convention. Of course, as a political animal, I do politics anywhere I find myself”, he added.
