2023: Tinubu, Wike parley in London

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has met with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in London, the United Kingdom to woo the latter to his camp ahead of the 2023 general election.

It was gathered that Tinubu and Wike met in London on Monday, contrary to reports that the duo met in France on Tuesday.

It was gathered that some APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors also attended the meeting.

A source in Tinubu’s camp, who confirmed the meeting between Tinubu and Wike, said the parley was held in London.

“Governors Sanwo-Olu and Fayemi were equally part of the delegation. Contrary to what some online media are speculating, the meeting was held in London yesterday (Monday),” PUNCH quoted the source as saying.

When asked if an agreement was reached at the meeting, the source said he could not confirm because the full details had not been disclosed to him.

“Don’t forget that Sanwo-Olu and Fayemi earlier went with Fayose and Akeredolu to see Wike in Port Harcourt on behalf of our principal. Definitely, something is going on between them.

“However, I may not be in a position to tell whether there was a sort of MoU or agreement between them,” the source added.

It would be recalled that three APC governors, Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), on July 8, visited Wike in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital as part of moves to woo him.

Also present at the meeting was a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

The Star recalls that since former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, emerged as the PDP presidential candidate, the opposition party has been embroiled in rancour.

The crisis became worsened after Atiku named Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

Many had expected Wike, who came second in the party’s presidential primaries, to be chosen as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

Governor Wike and his associates later demanded the resignation of Ayu as a condition for them to campaign for Atiku.

They said all top positions in the PDP are being occupied by northerners, noting that Ayu, who is from the North-Central, must resign as a concession to the South.

The supporters of the governor stressed that Atiku from North-East must honour his promise that once the party’s presidential standard-bearer emerges from the North, a southerner would be the national chairman.

The PDP had since set up a reconciliation panel to resolve the crisis between the former Vice-President and Wike.

The Star