Our relationship with APC, LP ended with presidential election ― Wike

From left Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State (m) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-Elect

By Editor

March 03, 2023

 

The Rivers State Governor. Nyesom Wike  on Friday disclosed that any alliance his G-5 group formed with the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party has ended with the last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

Wike made the disclosure when he commissioned Ibadan airport aviation fuel dispensing facility and storage depot, the Dr Omololu Olunloyo Airport Road and flagging off the construction of the Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo Park, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

He said the People’s Democratic Party candidates are set to win the governorship and State assemblies elections slated for March 11.

He said the G5 governors were happy that Nigerians stood firm and ensured the materialization of the presidency moving to the South.

“On the 11th of March, close your eyes, don’t ask, everything you press must be the umbrella. There is no relationship with anybody again. The only relationship we have on the 11th of March is the umbrella. Don’t hear any grammar again. 

"The only grammar you can hear now is the umbrella, nothing like a broom. Broom ended last Saturday. Labour ended last Saturday. What will reign now is an umbrella", he said.

He, however, opined  that there was an unwritten law in the country that power must move from the North to the South and vice versa which must be implemented at every electoral cycle.

He said the G5 governors had shown boldness in their stance premised on the need for the right things to be done, no matter whose ox is gored.

 “I have told people that those who fight for change; those who fight for revolution may not be direct beneficiaries of that fight. Today, history has it that all of us are aware that when power finishes from the South, it will go to the North; when it finishes from the North, it will go to the South. 

"It does not need to be written in any constitution before it is implemented. I thank Nigerians for standing firm to see that this issue materializes.

“You can only belong to G5, stand your feet on the ground because you know what they are doing. It is only those who are afraid, who have nothing to offer that cannot stand firm, be bold and take a decision and say we must put things right no matter who is involved.

“He has shown that he is a man you can depend on; he has shown that he is a man that will not tolerate complete slavery. I am happy he is one of those that have made history by making sure power shifts to the South", he said.

The Rivers State Governor said the People’s Democratic Party candidates are set to win the governorship and State assemblies elections.

Lauding the Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde on the airport projects, Wike said the fact that the Oyo governor was investing in the federal government-owned Ibadan airport echoed the imperative of federalism and restructuring.

He added that it was expedient for the federal government to refund the Oyo State government for its investments in the airport or hands off and hand over the airport to the state.

In his remarks, Seyi Makinde said the state government had embarked on a journey of Ibadan airport becoming an international airport.

He added that the upgrade of the airport will engender increased investments in the state, thereby boosting the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Makinde explained that the decision to name the 3.2kilometres Ibadan Airport Road after the former governor, Dr Omololu Olunloyo is in recognition of the need to honour the state’s heroes and those citizens of the state that have distinguished themselves in various spheres of life.

“You cannot be spending state money and not the one controlling the airport. That is why we are talking of true federalism and restructuring. 

"Certain things are owned by the federal government, but the federal government does not perform its responsibility. All they do at the end of the month is collect a percentage of the funds and then begin to do all kinds of things", he added.

Makinde explained that the decision to name the 3.2kilometres Ibadan Airport Road after the former governor, Dr Omololu Olunloyo is in recognition of the need to honour the state’s heroes and those citizens of the state that have distinguished themselves in various spheres of life.