Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike cannot be ignored in Nigerian politics today, especially as the 2023 general election looms on the horizon.
Wike has simply become one of the most important political office holders in Nigeria today through sheer political sagacity. The public loves him, the media is in a frenzy wherever he wants him to go. Even the governors of other parties fawn over him. In short, Rivers is the new political capital of Nigeria where more politics is played than in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Wike is the leader of the group of aggrieved PDP governors who oppose Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the embattled PDP national chair, continuing in office. His complaint is that Senator Iyorchia Ayu is from the north, with the former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the party’s presidential candidate also from the north. They insist that Ayu’s continued tenure in office goes against the party’s zoning arrangement.
The aggrieved governors include Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom; the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeany Ugwuanyi; the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Oyo State Governor and Seyi Makinde, are collectively called and known as the G-5 Governors. They have become the nightmare of the main opposition party, the PDP, ahead of the elections.
The last time five PDP governors rebelled against their party in this way was before the 2015 general election, when five PDP governors refused to support the second-term bid of then-President Goodluck Jonathan. They walked away from the party and that strike was instigated and supported by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Jonathan lost that election, even though he was a powerful sitting president. The great power of incumbency couldn’t save Jonathan after five governors fired him.
Although the aggrieved current governors have not dumped the party as Atiku and the governors did before the 2015 elections, their negative public statements do not inspire confidence in PDP supporters or the party’s presidential candidate.
Uncertainty in the PDP ahead of the presidential elections has made Wike the beautiful bride of Nigerian politics in the upcoming elections and Rivers State has become a kind of mecca where the heads of the different political parties and the Elected officials from out of Rivers State are going to pay tribute to Wike. , they commission projects and are televised live to the chagrin of PPD leaders and supporters who oppose the governor’s political style.
These widely televised visits by leaders of other political parties, including Labor Party presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Alhaji Musa Rabiu Kwankwas, meant that Wike promised to provide logistics for the duo whenever they come to Rivers. state to campaign. This is even as supporters of PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar claimed that thugs allegedly sent by the Rivers State government are tearing down Atiku Abubakar’s banners.
Recall that weeks after Wike lost the DPP presidential primary in Abuja and was ruled out for the party’s vice-presidency, emissaries of All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, led by his protege, Governor from Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited Port Harcourt with his delegation that includes Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, interpreted by many as an attempt to woo Lagos State. Wike to support the APC candidate.
Wike’s courtship came to a head when the APC-controlled federal government awarded him the Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery at the Nigerian Public Service Excellence Award. In a letter addressed to the Governor from the Office of the Federation Government Secretary, and signed on behalf of Mr. Boss Mustapha, by Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary (General Services), the award was in recognition of the giant of Wike. advances in the construction and rehabilitation of highways; construction of 12 flyovers without precedent in the state, health infrastructure; education, health, sports, agriculture, among others, adding that many Nigerians affectionately call Wike Mr. Projects.
The award was presented to Wike by Buhari at the Abuja Presidential Villa. Many political observers believe that the prize awarded by the APC-led federal government has seriously affected the fortunes of the party in the state led by former transport minister Chibuike Amaechi. This is because many are now wondering what the APC in the state would wear to campaign against Wike and the PDP, when the APC leader in Abuja described Wike as an artist. Wike has also reciprocated by praising President Buhari for approving the payment of 625.43 billion naira, 13 percent oil diversion, subsidy and SURE-P repayments from the Federation Account between 2021 and 2022. The repayments date from 1999 to 2021 Wike revealed that it was the rebates he used to pay for infrastructure projects in the state and challenged other Niger Delta states to say what they did with their own rebates. This has disturbed other governors of the Niger Delta states who have been challenged by indigenous people in their various states to come clean.
On Saturday, Wike took matters to another level when he awarded the G-5 governors the highest award in Rivers, among others, leaving many wondering what Wike is doing ahead of the election in which the presidential election is fundamental. Among the honorees were eight state governors, nine former governors, attorneys, and others who have demonstrated a high level of loyalty to the nation, excellence in public service, a commitment to fairness, equality, and justice in the country, and a love of government and the village. of the State of the Rivers. Recipients of Rivers’ most prestigious award, the Rivers State Great Service Star (GSSRS) are Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) , Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa) and David Umahi (Ebonyi). Others include former Governors Olabode George, Jonah Jang, Donald Duke, Ayodele Fayose, Ibrahim Idris, Olusegun Mimiko, Theodore Orji, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwanbo, and Adams Oshiomhole. 110 distinguished personalities, including the wives of the Governors of Rivers and Oyo States, the Hon. Judge Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde; Ms. Onari Donald Duke, Federation Solicitor General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, were conferred with the Distinguished Service Status of
State of the rivers (DSSRS). Although these awards were said to have been initiated by the administration of Dr. Peter Odili to reward excellence in the state, Wike’s latest awards have generated mixed feelings. This is because there are those who are deserving of such awards among the recipients and those who are not. Wike is playing 2023 politics with the awards? Time will tell.
However, whichever way you look at it, as long as the DPP continues to prevaricate to address the wrath of the G-5 governors, the country will continue to focus attention on Nyesom Wike, who, along with the other aggrieved governors, will decide whether or not to back off. . APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu or Labor Party presidential candidate Peter Obi or New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Alhaji Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, among others, at the expense of PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the presidential elections on February 25, 2023.
However, it remains to be seen if, under the new electoral order introduced by the 2022 Electoral Law, which provides for the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and the electronic transfer of results in real time, there are still there are loopholes that Nigeria’s powerful governors could exploit to influence the outcome of the 2023 general election, especially the all-important presidential election.
In conclusion, no one can outright win the 2023 presidential election without the backing of Wike and his cadre of governors.
Therein lies his power and that is why Wike is now the most powerful political figure in Nigeria.
MAY NIGERIA REBOUNDS
