Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has commended his Kaduna State counterpart, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor for their stance on power-shift to the south.
Wike made the commendation at Eneka in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, during the inauguration of Eneka-Igbo Etche Link Road.
The governor stated that the last presidential election was about the protection of the unity of Nigeria and Rivers State sided with other patriots of national inclusivity to support the southern presidency.
He said it was natural justice that the presidency move to the south since the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, who hails from the north was just concluding his eight years tenure in office.
“Your Excellency, let me use the opportunity to thank you immensely and members of your team, particularly you governors from the north under the All Progressives Congress, APC. When it matters most in this country, when Nigerians were talking about unity; how this country will be united and progressive, people like you came out boldly and spoke out l for the unity of this country”, he told El-Rufai.
He went on; “It is important that the presidency having stayed in the north for eight years should move to the south and you stood firm. You were not personal about it because what you were talking about was the interest of Nigeria.”
Wike stated that those from the north who supported the southern presidency would have, instead, used their numerical strength to oppress the rest of the country and thwart the quest for southern presidency, but they did not do such.
Wike added; “You (el-Rufai) would have, as well, coming from a zone that is highly populated, said this is my second tenure, I’m leaving, I’m going to throw in my weight to contest for the presidential election, but you said no, let it move to the south.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the government and people of Rivers State. The unity of Nigeria matters and I assure you that history will be on your side tomorrow when unity of Nigeria will be discussed.”
The Governor explained that in Rivers State, the resolve to support the southern presidency was not compromised and the election results were evidence of such support in the spirit of equity, justice and defence of the unity of Nigeria.
“Here, (Rivers) we supported the president from the south. I don’t want to say who we voted for, the results show. I don’t know who took first, I don’t know who took second. But it is important to know that the people of the State supported the southern presidency”, he added.
The Rivers State governor said the invitation to governor el-Rufai to inaugurate the project is on the basis of comparing notes and strategies on governance and delivery of development projects in the light of peer review mechanisms as they serve their people.
He stated that he had seen some landmark projects provided by governor el-Rufai in Kaduna that included flyovers and roads, with some inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who inaugurated the project, pointed out that though himself and governor Wike may be from different political parties, they share a few things in common because they are Nigerians and believe in one Nigeria.
He commended Governor Wike and the people of Rivers State for supporting the emergence of a southern president in the 2023 presidential election.
“I want on behalf of our presidential candidate and our party to thank you and the good people of river state for making the right choice in voting for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is the first time since the Fourth Republic started in 1999 that PDP was unable to get 25% in Rivers state.
“It shows that the people of Rivers can differentiate and they know when to vote for quality and they voted quality over political sentiments. We want to thank you for providing that leadership to Governor Wike.”
The Kaduna State Governor urged Wike, who he described as stance believer in the unity of Nigeria to continue to work together with others of like-minds to make Nigeria an egalitarian, progressive and prosperous society.
“I want to assure you on behalf of the Northern APC governors that stood up and insisted that after eight years of President Buhari power should shift to the South was an act not only of belief in one Nigeria, but also in our enlightened self interest.
“This country has the potential to lead the African continent and indeed the black race. But only when Nigerian leaders come together and do what is best for the majority of our people. This is what the northern APC Governors stood for.
“This is what we believe Governor Wike stands for and this is part of the reason that I am here to extend our hand of fellowship to Your excellency governor Nyesom Wike and the people of Rivers state, for us to continue to work together as brothers and sisters to make Nigeria a better place for everyone. No matter what religion, ethnicity, tribe, colour or creed.”
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