‘Consultation is still ongoing’ -Wike speaks on meeting OBJ, Obi, Tinubu, Atiku in London as he returns to Nigeria.

“For whatever it’s worth, consultation is ongoing. Whatever we are talking about, is in 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 in 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.” – Governor Wike

Governor Ezenwa Wike of Rivers state returned back to Nigeria after a period of five-day vacation and consultation in London and Paris. The governor arrived on Friday @ Port Harcourt International Airport, accompanied by Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue and Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State governor.

Earlier, while in Europe he met in Paris, France with Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). From there he proceeded to London, England where he met and consulted with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and finally with Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic (PDP).

Speaking to the journalists on his arrival from Europe, Wike was not specific on any particular meeting with all the political players but he was rather generic on his utterances.

His words: “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.”

Wike delved on the issues discussed in the respective meetings without pinpoint any issue in particular.

“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.”

He maintained that “Consultation is still ongoing. Never mind some people who do not believe in the existence of this country,” and therefore opens the window to further meetings in the future.

“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.”

“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.”

Wike continued, “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.”

“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.”

Wike as the beautiful bride

Governor Wike is gathering and attracting an enormous attention in this political season as 2023 election is fast approaching. This limelight and opportunity has become a showcase for his political acumen and artistry. But his time is limited. Timing and time are everything. At a point he must settle for something or become irrelevant.