An All Progressives Congress (ACF) chieftain, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, has confirmed the London parley between Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike and the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
There were media reports that the former Lagos state governor met with some PDP stakeholders under the leadership of Governor Wike.
The meeting, according to Masari, was a confirmation that the governor would work for the APC standard bearer during the 2023 presidential election.
Wike, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, is currently at loggerheads with his party after losing at the presidential primary.
Further to this, efforts by the Wike group to get the vice presidential slot also failed as the PDP flagbearer , former Vice President Atiku Abubakar picked Delta state Governor Ifenayi Okowa as his running mate.
Efforts by the party to reconcile with Wike have continued to fail, as his group insisted the PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, must go to allow for a southerner to step in as the party’s chair.
They argued that since Atiku, a northerner emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, it’s only fair that Ayu, another northerner, should quit for equity and balancing.
Although the party appears in a quagmire, but the duo of Ayu and Bauchi state Governor Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed said there’s no cause for alarm.
Masari speaks
Confirming Governor Wike’s support for Tinubu’s bid, Masari, an associate of the APC national leader and former place holder of the party’s running mate, said the PDP governor would support the APC presidential candidate.
Masari who spoke from London Wednesday, told the BBC Hausa Service that it’s true Tinubu met Wike and they would continue to meet in due course.
“The meeting was basically on the 2023 Presidential election and by God’s grace, we are going to work with His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike ,he will assist and we are going to win the election with ease, by the will of God,” Masari said.
On whether Wike intended joining the ruling party to properly assist Tinubu win the election, the party chieftain said he was not in the position to speak on that.
He, however, said the governor must not necessarily leave the major opposition party before supporting his choice candidate.
The party chieftain said: “This is because Wike is a big politician, a Governor and he has control in some other states apart from his state. He is good to the people and has associated with his people peacefully. By the grace of God, he will be of help to us.”
On whether the new political romance would last since Atiku’s camp was still pacifying Wike, Masari said: “Well, only God knows what would happen next. But what we are seeing now, what has transpired is that we are going to work with Wike and he will be useful to us.
” If you could remember, it was APC that caused the failure of APC in Bauchi, it was members of the party that led to the defeat of the Governor from their own party. In Adamawa too. So, what I want people to understand, someone can still assist you even without joining your party if he wants to.
“Furthermore, with the widespread acceptance of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerians, I can assure you by the will of God he is going to win the election, with or without help. But there is the Hausa adage which says even if you’re beautiful, you should add to it by taking bath. So, it’s not only about Wike, we are also talking with many other Governors.”
Asked if Wike’s support won’t putting former minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi in abeyance, Masari said: “Nobody will do anything that will hurt Rotimi Amaechi. He is a party member, a formidable member of the APC.”