The two-day sojourn of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Rivers State between May 3 and 4 was not a mere visit for just project inaugurations. Events that played out, including utterances of Tinubu, his host, Nyesom Wike and other political leaders showed that the ceremonies were beyond the cutting of tapes.
First, the President-elect used the occasion to give snippets of how his administration would handle issues disturbing the country. He also proved naysayers wrong displaying a perfect understanding of issues and giving intelligent responses that shocked some detractors, who waited to lap on a slip. But what was the politics behind the invitation of Tinubu to inaugurate two iconic projects, the 12th flyover and the Magistrate Court complex, delivered by Wike, his friend?
Wike used the occasion to score many political points for Rivers. The governor has proved to be an enigma of sorts, a perfect reader of a crystal ball and a political prophet. Some have referred to him as the man, who saw tomorrow.
Wike led a rebellion in his party by daring to challenge the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which chose to plot another northerner to take over from a northern President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Persons who railroaded Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to fly the presidential flag of the PDP were sure that he was going to win the February 25 election. They banked on deceptive reasoning that the North prioritises power above every other consideration and will always vote for their own when presented with the opportunity.
They argued that the Waziri of Adamawa was a perfect opportunity for the North to remain in power after Buhari.
Therefore, they thundered that Wike was on the verge of committing political suicide. The Rivers henchman lost most of his political allies, who believed in the Atiku project. Some PDP leaders in Rivers abandoned Wike to his fate and joined the governor’s opponents to abuse him. Austin Opara, Celestine Omehia, Lee Maeba and many others from Rivers, who formed an alliance with Atiku spoke ill of Wike.
In fact, they were waiting for Atiku to win before launching their final arsenals against the governor. Indeed, Wike would have gone into political exile if Atiku had won the election. He would have been beaten, dragged, bruised and thrown into the Golgotha if Tinubu had lost at the poll.
But, Wike took what could be described as the highest political risk of his life. Without berthing an eyelid, the governor sustained his campaign against Atiku, the Iyorchia Ayu-led national PDP. He took them on character and almost sounding like a broken record seized every fora to demarket Atiku and PDP leaders behind the party’s presidential ticket.
Wike told the world how Atiku and Ayu were serial breakers of promises. “They lacked integrity”, he told everybody. Wike consistently told everyone how Atiku and the Ayu-led PDP breached the party’s constitution by violating the zoning arrangement of elective positions enshrined in the PDP.
He was deliberate. The governor cited instances, that those he indicted could not deny. He recruited four other governors in his party, who shared the same opinions. The governors of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Benue, Samuel Ortom; and Oyo, Seyi Makinde. They formed the popular G-5.
But, Wike was the most outspoken of them all. He doubled as the leader and the spokesman of the G-5, which metamorphosed into the Integrity Group (IG) to include other non-governors in PDP, who shared the view that power must return to the South.
But, some of them became casualties. Ikpeazu and Ortom lost everything. They lost their states to the opposition and sacrificed their senatorial ambitions. Why the APC won Benue, the Labour Party (LP) swept Abia. Ugwuanyi delivered his governorship candidate in PDP but he lost his senatorial ambition.
Wike and Makinde survived all missiles thrown at them. Though Makinde had earlier declared that he was ready to sacrifice his second term for a southern presidency, he later won his second term bid while he worked with other APC leaders to deliver the state to Tinubu.
Wike’s victory in Rivers was overwhelming. He delivered Tinubu at the presidential poll in Rivers. It was the first time another party other than the PDP would win the presidential election in Rivers. In fact, APC in previous elections could not score 25 per cent in Rivers State.
Unlike Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu, Wike made it clear to all the PDP leaders in his state that Tinubu was his preferred presidential candidate. He ensured all PDP leaders at the grassroots campaigned for Tinubu and adopted a winning strategy for him. Wike stood his ground and was despised by notable APC leaders in Rivers, who were said to have worked for Atiku.
The governor triumphed. Wike popped Champaign immediately it became evident that Tinubu won. He celebrated it as he heaved a sigh of relief. It was his victory and it buoyed the governor to clear the governorship and House of Assembly poll having taken all the Senate seats and majority of the House of Representatives.
Therefore, his invitation of Tinubu to Rivers to inaugurate projects was a celebration of that victory at the poll. Besides, Tinubu’s presence would further cement a relationship between Rivers and the incoming Presidency. Wike’s Audacity has placed a connecting rod between Rivers and the centre.
Wike understands the benefits accruing to states when they have a cordial relationship with the centre. For instance, Rivers since 1999 maintained such a relationship as a PDP state with a PDP central government till 2015 when the APC swept the PDP out of Aso Rock.
The governor recalled that an initial love lost between the PDP Rivers and the APC Federal Government affected his performance. He said the 12th flyovers he constructed would have been 20 if a better alignment had existed earlier between them.
The governor has, therefore, provided a smooth sail for his successor, Siminialaye Fubara, who will be inaugurated on May 29, following his decision to connect the state to the incoming Federal Government of Tinubu.
At the state banquet in honour of Tinubu, Wike recalled his fears throughout the period he worked for Tinubu. He remembered that on some occasions when he met with the Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru, he raised some doubts.
rivers tinubu settles wike magnus abes long time rift video
He said: “When we met with Badaru and co, for me it is difficult to trust people knowing how politicians are. But I have seen some Nigerians whom I can go home and sleep with my two eyes closed. There was a time that when we met, I would ask Badaru: ‘Are you sure that you people are not playing us wayo?’ He said, ‘Look this programme is a programme for Nigeria. I can assure you we will do it together’.”
On some of his friends and members of the G-5 that lost out during the poll, Wike said: “Not everyone that is part of a revolution benefits from it, Ortom, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi. Today, they may be casualties but it doesn’t matter. They believe in the unity of this country. They believe that power should shift to the south. What is important is that they stood with us. They may not go to the Senate but they won.”
Indeed, Wike’s audacity reverberated in speeches made by some political leaders. Badaru, for instance, extolled the political sagacity of his Rivers colleague describing him as a grandmaster. He said he was sceptical when Wike promised them that he would deliver Rivers to APC.
He said: “I would like to thank Governor Nyesom Wike on behalf of the President-elect for doing so many things. First, he gave us encouragement when we started this movement. Two, creating trouble for the other party, three, helping and encouraging us always and most important fulfilling his promise.
“He is a gentleman to the core. He is a man of his word. When he said he would deliver Rivers to APC, I started wondering how? APC had never made 25 per cent in Rivers. How can he do it? I know how election management is. I didn’t see the possibility of him keeping to that promise.
“I started wondering, I hope this man will not injure himself in the process. I felt, if he is delivering president and he has senatorial and House of Reps candidates, how is he going to do it? But the man delivered. I am still imagining, how? I supervise many elections and we believe we are good at calculating and managing elections, but Wike has beaten me hands down.”
The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, on his part, described Wike as a unifier and a man across party lines. He said Wike participated immensely in baking the national cake of unity.
He said: “Let me seize the opportunity to thank Wike. When you invited me to inaugurate projects here I seized the opportunity to talk to him. I asked him to tell his people to vote for our presidential candidate and later my party queried, why should I come and campaign for APC and campaign that Rivers should vote for PDP for the governorship.
“I said look I have wisdom. There is no man that will come to Rivers and see the magnitude of work Wike had done and see the love that he commands from his people and see the acceptability of the infrastructure he had done and would want to campaign against the interest of Wike. It amounts to committing suicide.
“Let me thank you for inviting our father and leader to Rivers. You have been a unifier and a man across party lines. You said you voted for the unity of this country. You participated immensely in baking a national cake of unity for our nation when our nation needed that unity. You are a partner in this cake of that national unity. You are loved by your people. You have worked for your people.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, referred to Wike as a factor in the concluded elections. He said evidence abound of the love the people of Rivers had for their governor adding that such affection had been transferred automatically to the President-elect.
He said: “All I have to say is thank you for being a factor if not the factor in Southsouth politics, in Nigerian politics and in the elections that we just had. We have seen the amazing work you have done in Rivers and we have seen the cheering of the crowd and the people.
“All of this is just a testament that you are loved by your people. I saw that the love has been automatically transferred to the President-elect. You have been inaugurating projects.”
In his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Danagogo summed up the significance of the visit. The visit he said was a demonstration of Tinubu’s love for Wike and the people of Rivers.
He said: “Your visit tells us not just that you value our governor but that truly you love Rivers people. This visit has reassured us that our votes for you are not in vain. It is a worthwhile investment in our glorious future.
“We thank our governor for leading us alright. We believe strongly that the magic wound you used to transform Lagos to the Centre of Excellence will bring it to bear on Nigeria as a whole and this country will become a country of excellence.
“This is one moment in our national history when I believe that preparation, experience, competence, courage and commitment have met the right opportunity in providing leadership for our country. Indeed, greatness beckons on Nigeria.”
The President-elect seized the opportunity to test the microphone. Throughout the big events, he was attentive. He listened to all the speeches, gave applauses when needed, laughed and smiled to humour. His comportment was presidential and he disappointed all naysayers, who were glued to their television to either spot gaffes or catch him off guard.
Tinubu showed a perfect understanding of issues and gave intelligent responses. For example, when Wike publicly lobbied and made a request for refunds of the money he spent executing federal projects in Rivers. Tinubu was seen smiling at the way Wike made the request during the inauguration of the 12th flyover. He deployed wisdom to answer him. Detractors, who had waited in vain for a slip deliberately misinterpreted and twisted his statement.
Wike had said: “Unfortunately, too these projects ought to be federal government projects because they are federal roads. If we had said because it is a Federal Government road and we didn’t do it, we are going to suffer. Since we have said we don’t want our people to suffer, we have to do it.
“But Federal Government should say look, you have done well for us, these are our projects, can you bring your bill and let us refund you the money? That is what it is supposed to be with a partnership with a good federal government.
“I can assure you that as you enter the office and you approve to pay this money back, other states will have the courage to also do the same thing. It is not a laughing matter I am not asking what we are not entitled to. That is one thing my successor, the day he is entering office on May 29, a letter had been prepared for him he will sign that day and forward to you since you will also be sworn in on May 29. That is the first request we are making.”
But, Tinubu, who was full of smiles, responded: “On the 12th flyover and the demands you made for refunds, I owe you nothing. It is your road. I commend your efforts. You have to lobby me to collect. Nyesom, as you made me happy, create excitement and development across this state, you have something to look forward to, Nigeria. You and I must discuss that, not expected indebtedness”.
The President-elect was not carried away. He knew exactly what he meant and persons twisting the statement were doing so to downplay the value of Wike’s contributions to the victory of Tinubu. If the President-elect had accepted Wike’s request hook line and sinker, the same people would have come hard on him and accused him of usurping the power of the president.
Tinubu later offered the pretenders some education and clarification on the issue. At the state banquet, he made the naysayers realise how hollow and myopic they were. While trying to explore loopholes, they failed to reason.
He said: “I am the President-elect. I have no signature for expenditure until sworn in. How can I make commitments? I cannot sign a dime of Nigerian money or expenditure. There can only be one President at a time.
“You don’t ask me to go and commit to things that are mere expectations. Yes, power is not served ala carte you have to struggle for it. I flogged myself for this election and I thank all of you for the support, for the encouragement you gave me to struggle on the journey. I am still on a countdown. If I sign anything for you now I can’t pay. For that flyover how can I pay? Personally? It is not realistic for me to make that promise.
“We fight poverty and we must fight it vigorously, poverty of thinking, poverty of standard and poverty of reasoning like the diversion they have my story yesterday. It is the poverty of thinking
Tinubu further seized the occasion to emphasise the need to keep promises. He said the way he kept the promise he made to Wike to visit Rivers for project inauguration was the same way he would keep all his campaign promises to the country. At the inauguration of the 12th Flyover, he said: I am here to fulfil promises. A promise made is a promise kept.”
At the state banquet, Tinubu said: “I believe in fulfilling promises.” At the inauguration of the Magistrate Court complex, he said: “I really thank you (Wike) for being my friend. I have fulfilled the promise that I made to the people of Rivers State and that is all I intend to do in all policy formations coming up.”
Tinubu further harped on the unity of Nigeria saying it is not negotiable. The President-elect said his incoming administration would prioritise peace and justice.
At the banquet, Tinubu o served the coming together of dignitaries across party lines especially senators elected on the platforms of different political parties to honour him. He said such a show of solidarity is a signpost of the emerging Nigeria.
He said: “We have to do it for Nigeria. Peace, unity, equity and justice in this country is a must. I salute all the governors respectfully both outgoing and incoming. It is a night of success, a day of success, a celebration of the success of development and the success of goals for both Rivers and the nation. You see politics speaking a different language of unity, solidarity, and building bridges across. I thank all of you for celebrating the victory we just achieved. I am a happy man.
“I still stand by my promise that the Nigerian project is achievable and doable. It is a matter of thinking and doing. We have seen it here in Rivers. It is demonstrated very clearly that it is not just mere local support it is a national support and national belief that will help us achieve it.
“We are serving Nigeria and we will do justice to this country. I won’t respond to banters. Governance is a serious business and Nigeria is a serious project. We shall all be together to fulfil promises.
“We forge together maybe with the solidarity shown tonight by the Senate. We will achieve peace and stability by forging together. Maybe we should re-examine our old National Anthem, the first stanza that says, ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’”
At the inauguration of the Magistrate complex, Tinubu emphasised unity. He said: “I promise Nigerians, the unity of this country is not negotiable. That is what Wike and I are promoting jointly. I promise I will be fair to all.”
The President-elect highlighted some policy documents coming into the judiciary to tackle corruption.
Referring to Wike’s interventions in the judiciary, the incoming President said: “This is the way to fight corruption. You don’t expect your judges to live in squalor, to operate in squalor to dispense justice in squalor. This is part of the changes necessary in our policy think-tank.
“We must fight corruption and we definitely must look at the other side of the coin. If you don’t want your judges to be corrupt, you have got to pay attention to their welfare. If you want fair dispensation of justice, you don’t want them to operate in hazardous conditions, let’s think value for value.”
Tinubu further hinted at evolving a consumer credit system that would satisfy the desires of people to own properties and further reduce the temptation to engage in corrupt practices. He said: “If I don’t have consumer credit and you want me to pay for the car I needed, at about N5m, N6m, there will be a temptation to corruption. But if you have consumer credit, then that will reduce the propensity for corruption.
“We don’t want our judges to play foul, to compromise justice, not just the books but do something. I promise you, we are going to review all of these in a policy think tank”.
He also showed that he would be a president that would remember and reward sacrifices made by people. He publicly hailed Wike and members of his G-5 for believing in and defending the unity of Nigeria.
