Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s spokesperson, Tunde Rahman has disclosed that Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, did not meet in France as widely speculated, describing earlier reports as “fake news”.
Also, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, has denied reports the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in France.
This is coming amid reports that Wike shunned the emissaries of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Turkey.
Rahman in a statment on Friday, July 01, 2022 noted that though the APC presidential candidate holds Wike in high esteem, no meeting was held between them in France.
The statement read, “We have seen a viral social media post made by one of the chieftains of All Progressives Congress in Lagos State and media reports emanating from same about a supposed meeting in France between APC Presidential Standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State,” the statement said.
“It has become imperative to set the record straight. Although Asiwaju Tinubu is presently in France, he didn’t have any meeting with Governor Wike whether in that country or anywhere whatsoever.
“This, however, does not detract from the fact that the APC presidential candidate holds Governor Wike in high esteem.
“And given the national and across-party line’s appeal of Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidature, he will not hesitate to meet any important national leader when desirable.
“As made public earlier, Asiwaju Tinubu is in France for some important engagements. He will return to the country shortly.
“We would like, once again, to advice journalists to always cross-check their information with appropriate officers before rushing to press to avoid unintended errors.”
Recall that a panel had recommended Wike who came second during the presidential primary to Atiku. But Atiku picked Okowa against the recommendation. This pitched him against the Rivers State governor and the people in his camp.
On Wednesday, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, tongue-lashed Atiku for jettisoning the recommendation of a committee he constituted.
“Fourteen of us in the committee said the person should be Nyesom Wike unfortunately Atiku picked Okowa in is his wisdom. You cannot ignore a decision of a committee you set up yourself and expect people to be happy,” he said.
Similarly, a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, insisted that the southern part of the country must produce the next president of the country.
On Thursday, Joe Igbokwe, an APC chieftain, via Facebook, claimed Wike met with Tinubu in France. The claim ballooned the speculation about the impending defection of the Rivers State governor to the APC.
Reacting, Maina, a former Minister of Police Affairs, said he has been with the Rivers State Governor on Wednesday in Istanbul, Turkey.
”Governor Wike came directly from Nigeria to Istanbul, Turkey. He did not go to France as speculated. This is to debunk the propaganda of the APC through Igbokwe. This is fake news orchestrated by the sinking ruling party which is on its way out, ” he said in a phone chat today.
