The President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, thanked Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike on Wednesday for his support to his win in the hotly contested presidential election on February 25, 2023.
Tinubu made the remarks while inaugurating the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Road Flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State’s capital.
Tinubu was in the state at the request of the governor, who had supported the transfer of power to the country’s southern area during the presidential election despite the fact that they were members of opposing parties.
“Your Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, you are very dependable,” Tinubu, a powerbroker in the All Progressives Congress (APC), addressed Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the event, which was well-attended by APC veterans.
Tinubu said he went through a “gruesome campaign, fought hard and won”, saying he could not have achieved victory against major opponents like PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi without structural support from people like Wike.
“Nyesom, I say thank-you for your contribution to my victory. I couldn’t have done it without some structural support,” said the former Lagos State governor who would be sworn in as Nigeria’s President on May 29, 2023.
“In his Excellency, I see a man of principle. He (Wike) took a principled stand that the Presidency must return to the South and he has the courage to stand by his conviction not minding whose ox is gored.
“He is indeed a man of great integrity; he did not choose to serve his own interest, not about him. Rather, the interest of the nation. You promoted unity, you promoted fairness, you championed justice. Thank you.
“There were so much gossips and speculations but you stood your ground.”
Tinubu expressed delight to have established a relationship with the Rivers governor and congratulated Wike’s ally and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who was also at the function, for “partnership”.
Tinubu was in Rivers alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as well as the governors of Jigawa, Ebonyi, Kwara, Imo, amongst others. Some former governors of the APC were also in attendance.
The President-Elect thanked Wike for declaring Wednesday as a holiday in honour of his visit to the South-South state.