Wike, Makinde Visit Tinubu

Category: Nigeria News

Governor Nyesom Wike of River State and his counterpart in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, paid a courtesy visit to the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Defence House on Friday evening.

The development is coming two months after the former Lagos State governor was declared winner of the contentious 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu had polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labor Party flag bearer, who got 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes respectively.

But Atiku and Obi rejected the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, with each claiming at separate press conferences that the election was fraught with violence and massive rigging.

Both politicians have since petitioned the presidential election tribunal to register their displeasure over the outcome of the poll.

The two governors had a light-hearted chat with an Tinubu, who was excited to see them.

Shortly after their arrival, the duo had a closed-door meeting with the president-elect along with the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu; his Jigawa State counterpart, Abubakar Badaru, and former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.

Addressing journalists after their discussion, the two G-5 governors disclosed that they came all the way to pay homage to the president-elect following his victory at the February 25 poll.

The two notable leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party also used the opportunity to call on Nigerians to look beyond the 2023 election and throw their weight behind Tinubu.

This was even as they expressed confidence in the ability of the president-elect to turn around the fortunes of the country after May 29 inauguration.

Wike said, “Elections are gone and a winner has emerged and therefore all Nigerians must rally round and give him (Tinubu) necessary support. Everybody is waiting for May 29 to see that the President is inaugurated and he keeps the ground running to make sure that Nigerians get what they expected.

“I have confidence that he (Tinubu) has what it takes to turn Nigeria around. I have confidence in him.”

His position was re-echoed by Makinde, who also pledged their support for the incoming administration.

“I have come to pay homage to the President-elect and to tell him that elections are over and it is time for governance.