EBONYI State Governor Dave Umahi has advised President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accommodate his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, in his cabinet.
Despite being a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike had a lot to offer in incoming administration of Tinubu, the Ebonyi helmsman said in Port Harcourt yesterday.
Umahi spoke at the inauguration of the remodeled Community Secondary School built by Wike in Okoro-nu-Odo, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said Wike played a crucial role in swinging the victory of the 2023 presidential election to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Umahi said: “And so we commend him and I think that Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) must know that he worked for him, and must also integrate him in the next administration.
“And, so all these set of people, Asiwaju/Shettima must know that God turned their hands, to work for him, to actualise the will of God and actualize unity, equity and fairness. And we are very grateful to God for that.”
The Ebonyi governor also praised Wike for insisting that a southern Nigerian must succeed President Muhammadu Buhari saying it paved the way for the electoral victory of the APC.
He said: “God directly and indirectly made Governor Wike very much available. And so, there is no way APC can conclude about the success of the election without mentioning Governor Wike.
“And I will be asking Asiwaju/Shettima to please bring Governor Wike to the core administration of the federal government. He has a lot to offer. He has a lot to offer for the unity of the country.”
Umahi described Wike as a man, who loves his people and demonstrates it with sustained delivery of projects across sectors to better their lives.
He insisted that given such massive infrastructural revolution delivered by Wike, it would be a joke taken too far for any opposing political party to think and dare challenge to win PDP in Rivers.
Umahi corrected the impression in some quarters that Wike worked against the victory of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi in Rivers State.
He explained that in 2019, it was governor Wike who tirelessly mobilised political leaders in the Southeast to support the PDP vice presidential ambition of Peter Obi after supporting him to win that slot.
Umahi described as helpful the refusal of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu for not resigning when the G-5 governors and the members of the Integrity Group mounted pressure on him to do so.
He said if he had conceded to the demand then, it would have been difficult for the APC to win the last presidential election.
Umahi said: “I want to also thank very highly the suspended Chairman of PDP. You know, he did very well because if he had accepted to resign, it would have been very difficult for the APC. So, he is our man and I commend him very well. And I’m begging Wike they should lift the suspension so that he can suspend many more of your leaders. We love what he has done.”
Wike dismissed the claim by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi that he constructed five flyovers during his tenure and yet could not list them for identification.
[The Nation]
