The President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, appreciated the Rivers State Governor, Governor Nyesom Wike for his contribution to his victory at the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu who was in the State, for the commissioning of Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Road Flyover in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, thanks Wike for supporting power shift to the southern region of the country during the presidential election even though they belonged to different parties.
“Your Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, you are very dependable,” Tinubu said. Adding that 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 who came to Rivers alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as well as the governors of Jigawa, Ebonyi, Kwara, Imo, amongst others, thanked Wike for declaring Wednesday as a holiday in honour of his visit to the South-South state.