The crisis of confidence between Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday, took a frightening dimension as Wike refused to pay a courtesy visit to Obaseki and shunned the Government House in Benin.
Wike, who was in Benin, the Edo State capital as part of consultation for his presidential ambition, deliberately refused to see Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.
The Rivers Governor also avoided the Edo State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benin. Incidentally, the state PDP Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, is Obaseki’s loyalist.
Obaseki and the PDP National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih, have been having a running battle over the control of the party structure in Edo State.
Wike was hosted by Orbih, who, prior to his elevation to his present position, was the chairman of the party in the state.
Curiously, Orbih was joined by his teeming supporters to receive Wike, who held talks with Edo PDP delegates at the residence of a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP, the late Chief Tony Anenih.
The Rivers Governor had earlier visited the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II.
Speaking at the palace of Oba of Benin, Wike promised that he would focus on curbing insecurity with massive investment in intelligence gathering, if elected as president in 2023.
Receiving Wike, the Oba of Benin said he has what it takes to govern the country, based on his impressive performance in Rivers State.
The Oba of Benin said: “Wike is our son, we love him and if I say so, I believe I am speaking on behalf of our ancestors. We will keep praying for him, so that he does not come across anybody that will mislead him, that will misinform him and may he and his family not come across harm.
”We must continue to hold on to our traditions and customs, because of its superiority over others.”
Wike also disclosed that economic activities, agriculture and investment in infrastructure can only thrive in a secured environment.
He said: “I was here (in Benin) one and a half years ago (ahead of the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State), as the Director-General of the campaigns for the re-election of Governor Obaseki. I am here today (yesterday), not on behalf of anybody, but of myself and my team to seek your prayers.
“I have come to Benin to talk to the delegates of our party (PDP) that will be part of our national convention on May 28 and 29.”
He also said that the opposition PDP needs a candidate with the capacity to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.
Wike said: “What PDP needs now is to win election. It is about who has the capacity to face the APC. I think I am the one amongst all of us with such capacity.
“This party has given me everything and I owe it a duty to work for the party to make sure it takes over power in 2023. I have not left this party since 1998 and I am not going to leave the party.
“If we truly want to win this election, give me the opportunity, give me the ticket and wait to see what will happen in 2023. Giving me the ticket means we are almost there. This excuse of our party losing an election will end by using Wike as the candidate of the party.”
The Rivers Governor added that Nigeria required a leader with courage to steer her affairs and tackle the current problems of insecurity, and lack of growth in the economic sector.
He said, “Who will come to invest in a country that is largely not secured and how would agriculture flourish when farmers cannot go to farm?
“The major thing in governance is the protection of lives and properties. Then you’ll see that all other things will follow.
“If people cannot go to school, if people cannot go out in the evening, then what is the essence of governance?”
Wike further claimed that he was fully prepared for the office with the capability to assemble the best brains to provide leadership.
Seeking support for Wike, Orbih said: “I want to say that we need a president who will say it as it is. For us today, Nigeria is sleeping, we need a Wike to wake Nigeria.”
