The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has described the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as an elder statesman for whom he has the utmost respect.
He stated this while refuting a report by a national daily which quoted him as saying that Tinubu cannot see “presidency gate in 2023”.
Wike was quoted to have made the comment while in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State on February 4, to inspect some projects being executed by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
He explained that while inspecting the Greater Interchange and Underpass in Yola, some journalists requested for an interview which he graciously obliged them.
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“The questions asked ranged from the purpose of his visit; the prospects of the Peoples Democratic Party winning the 2023 general election and Nigeria’s rating in the global corruption index recently published by Transparency International.
“At no time during the interview session that lasted about five minutes did Governor Wike mention the names of Chief Tinubu and the APC’s former national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, or even alluded to them.
“We, therefore consider the report by Mr Emmanuel Ande as preposterous, fabricated, malicious and intended to inflame relationship between Governor Wike and Chief Tinubu, whom the Rivers Chief Executive holds in high esteem.
“We wish to state without equivocation, that irrespective of political affiliation, Governor Wike has enormous respect for Chief Tinubu and will never say or do anything to malign the hard earned reputation of the elder statesman.”
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