The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has hailed Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for supporting the rotation of the 2023 presidency to the South, saying he couldn’t have won the just-concluded presidential election without the latter’s support.

Tinubu, who described Wike as a man of principle, said the governor and the people of Rivers State played a pivotal role in his election victory.

The President-elect said this while commissioning the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Wednesday, May 3.

The former governor of Lagos State is on a two-day visit to Rivers State to inaugurate projects executed by Wike’s administration.

He said he is in the state in line with the promise he made during the campaigns in Rivers State, saying: “If you make a promise, you keep it.

“I will never forget the pivotal role the great and wonderful people of this state played in my victorious campaign to become the next president of this country. You have my eternal gratitude.

“In His Excellency, Governor Wike, I see a man of principle. He took a principled stand that the presidency should be returned to the South; and he had the courage to stand by his convictions, not minding whose ox was gored.

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“He is, indeed, a man of great integrity. He did not choose to serve his own interests, rather, the interests of the nation and the people of Rivers State. I thank him for his selfless leadership,” Tinubu stated.

The President-elect praised Governor Wike for the development strides in Rivers State, particularly for the 12 flyovers constructed across the state capital, saying posterity would kindly remember him.

He said with his accomplishments in the state, Nigeria would need the outgoing Rivers governor in higher capacities.

Tinubu further promised to work evenly for the country without marginalising any part in areas of development.

“I will not marginalise any region, but will leave legacy projects across the length and breadth of Nigeria,” he added.

On his part, Wike said the invitation for Tinubu to commission projects in the state was a fulfillment of promise made during the President-elect’s campaign visit to Rivers State.

He expressed appreciation to Tinubu for agreeing to visit Rivers State and perform the commissioning.

Wike, who threw jibes at the leadership of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), applauded the election of Tinubu which, he said, had shamed naysayers.

The event was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Governors Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Hope Uzodinma (Imo).

Others were former governors Dr Peter Odili (Rivers), Bisi Akande (Osun), James Ibori (Delta), Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti).

Others in attendance included the Governor-elect of Rivers State, Sim Fubara; the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare; and Dele Alake; among others.

The Star