Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, stated on Friday that his team is more focused on making Nigeria a better place and that they have held extensive consultations with those who share their intentions.
Following his arrival from London on Friday, Wike engaged in a conversation with journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa in the Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The governors of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, and Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, were present with the governor of Rivers State.
Wike, who confirmed their meetings with Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Olusegun Obasanjo of the former Nigerian president, in London, explained that improving Nigeria over its current state is the top item on the agenda.
The governor of Rivers State highlighted that things are not good in Nigeria and that they are looking for solutions to provide the country long-lasting optimism.
“I can affirm that this is the first time that we are meeting with presidential candidates as a team,” he stated.
“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.”
“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,” he stated
“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 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.”
Samuel Ortom, the team’s leader and governor of Benue State, responded by stating that they had met with well-known individuals recently because they are of the opinion that Nigeria is in trouble and needs a coordinated effort to be saved.
He claimed that their conversations with the people they met were constructive and transcended partisan politics since all Nigerians must come together to ensure that their country survives.
“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 from 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 on how we can come together and find a way of ensuring that Nigeria survives. Nigeria is on drip, Nigeria is on oxygen and it is about how can we get out of this,” Ortom said.
“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.”
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State, emphasised that they are on a mission and committed to finding a means to save Nigeria.
He stated that they are conscious of what society wants to leave the current generation, including their children and grandkids, to inherit.
And this is a country with a lot of promise, so we need to safeguard it effectively, he continued. We think that we need to engage across the board.
