Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, acknowledged on Friday that he met with potential 2023 presidential contenders and former president Olusegun Obasanjo while traveling abroad.
However, he insisted that the discussions were nonpartisan and intended to improve Nigeria for all citizens because things there are currently not good.
Anaedoonline.ng reports when Wike arrived back in Rivers State from London, he spoke with reporters at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa in the Ikwerre Local Government Area.
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Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, and Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State, accompanied him as he arrived.
Wike 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, former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We met the presidential candidate of Labour Party. We also met with our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. For whatever it’s worth, consultation is ongoing.
“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.”
Governor Wike went on to criticize politicians who want to stay in office forever as well as those who are replacing themselves with offspring and other close relatives.
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He characterized these political events in Nigeria as regrettable.
According to Wike, consultations for 2023 are still ongoing and no decision has been made in full.
He said: “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 member of 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.”
Wike said Nigeria needs to do away with sentiments such as religion and ethnicity in choosing leaders, arguing that competence should be the yardstick.
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He 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 primary school certificate can be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. That tells you how bad this country has become.
“But with our consultation, 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.”
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