Meeting Tinubu, Obasanjo, Atiku, Obi In London Good For Nigeria – Wike

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike says Nigerians should not despair as ongoing political consultations and conversations are for the nation’s overall good going forward

Speaking against the backdrop of recent meetings held with some key political actors and stakeholders in London, Governor Wike said topmost on the agenda centered on how to make Nigeria better than what it is today.

The Rivers State Chief Executive, who maintained that all was not well with Nigeria, said; “I can confirm that this is the first time as a team that we are meeting with presidential candidates. We met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and we met with our leader, the former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.

“We met the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. We also met with our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. For whatever it’s worth, consultation is ongoing.”

Governor Wike spoke at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area, shortly after arriving from London on Friday in the company of Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue state and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

He said the consultations were beyond partisan politics because they are greatly interested in a better country for every Nigerian, adding; “Whatever we are talking about, is for the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It is not parochial and tied to one person or group of persons. We believe that with what is going on, it will be for the interest of Nigerians at the end of the day.”

Decrying a situation where standard, training, and competence have always been traded for mediocrity across all sectors in the country, Governor Wike said leadership should not be about one individual and the interest of his family, but about the collective interest of everybody.

“Consultation is still ongoing. Never mind some people who do not believe in the existence of this country. Leadership is not about you and your family. Leadership is about everybody.
It’s unfortunate that we are in a country now where a man finishes eight years as a governor and brings his own son as a governor too and as a member of the National Assembly.

“It’s only in this part of the world that you can see that when we are talking about poverty everywhere. These are people who do not mean well for this Nigeria.”

The Governor, while also wondering why religion and ethnicity are being used as the tenable identity to describe Nigerians when competence was required, said; “The only identity they have in this country is religion and ethnicity, nothing more. It’s either, I’m a Christian or I’m a Moslem, I’m a Fulani or I’m an Igbo.

“Nigeria cannot move forward except they think it will be them. That’s where we are. We are in a country where someone with a primary school certificate can be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. That tells you how bad this country has become.

“But with our consultations, all these will be a thing of the past. No amount of intimidation or blackmail will deter us. We are determined to right the wrong.”

In his remarks, Governor Ortom, who is the Team leader, said they met with renowned persons in the last few days because of their belief that Nigeria was in distress and required concerted efforts to rescue it.

Claiming that they had fruitful talks at the various meetings beyond partisan politics, the Benue Governor said well-meaning Nigerians must come together and work towards ensuring that Nigeria survives, saying; “For us, we are looking at the larger picture. Nigeria today is in distress. It is about what can we do. No man or woman alone can get it right for our country.

“We are looking at how we can harness ideas and put ourselves together to ensure that we get out of the present challenge we are in Nigeria today. From top to bottom, consider what has happened since 2015 and where we are today. So, what we are doing is a concern that we have for our country, Nigeria.

“This is beyond partisan politics. We are looking at how we can come together and find a way of ensuring that Nigeria survives. Nigeria is on a drip, Nigeria is on oxygen and it is about how can we get out of this.”

Describing as worthwhile sessions the three separate meetings they had within the week, Governor Ortom hinted that individually, some of the personalities had earlier commitments in Europe, insisting that consultations were still ongoing as nothing concrete had been decided so far.

“The consultation is going on and will continue to go on. We are still going to meet here. We are still going to meet some persons some other time and see how we can work to ensure that the project Nigeria works”, the Benue Chief executive said.

On his part, Governor Ikpeazu said the team was on a mission and determined to find a way of rescuing Nigeria, stressing that they are all mindful of what society to bequeath to the present generation, their children, and grandchildren alike.

“And this is a country with great potential and we have to protect it well. We think that we need to engage across the board. We are also looking at speaking with civil society organisations, those who have ideas, and Nigerians in the diaspora.

“All the resources available in this country have to come together at this time to see how best we can move Nigeria forward”, the Abia governor assured.