DID WIKE ENDORSE TINUBU?

Governor Nyesom Wike has stated that All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu possesses the character and bravery necessary for Nigeria ahead of the presidential elections.

Wike, who met Tinubu at Government House in Port Harcourt immediately after the APC candidate's Rivers campaign rally on Wednesday, said he owes no one an apology for declaring his support for Tinubu's presidential candidacy.

The Rivers governor, on the other hand, ordered Tinubu not to promote more financing for the APC's Rivers governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, claiming he had no chance against Siminaliayi Fubura, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Wike expects to succeed him.

The governor acknowledged that Tinubu, the former Lagos governor, has never changed political parties and remains steadfast in his beliefs, while also revealing that he copied some of his (Wike's) governorship policies that have earned him praise, particularly quality welfare for judicial officers, from Tunubu's policies when he was Lagos governor.

“I have no apology to anybody to say nobody born of a woman can intimidate me. You have never changed party one day. That tells of your character and courage and that is what we require in this country” the Rivers governor told Tinubu.”

“But let me advice you, don’t spend any more money on your governorship candidate here (Rivers)”, 

Wike went on to say that he had no chance against the PDP candidate.

Wike chastised PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for lacking character in switching political parties and failing to maintain his commitment to hand over the party leadership to the South if he won the party ticket.

On the escalating trouble with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) currency redesign, Wike remarked, "Governor of CBN is disrespecting Supreme Court. Where has it happened in democracy?

“Supreme Court say do not do this and everybody is folding hands, begging CBN to obey Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court is not to be obeyed, what are you telling the people?”

Tinubu had informed Wike that they were two political leaders of a sort in that they were brave, consistent in character, law-abiding, and did not change their political platform in the face of adversity.

"You have never pushed for the fragmentation or disintegration of our country. All of your campaigning is about sharing the cake that we've baked together. We've come to campaign on the concept you established when you declared, "Let power transfer to the South."

Tinubu reportedly chastised Atiku for vacillating between the PDP and the APC, telling Wike, “I do not want to abuse anybody. I’m not here (Government House) to campaign. It is because of your character, your belief and faith that when we came to Port Harcourt to campaign, we said we must pay you a courtesy visit.”