Newsonline reports that Wike spoke to journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area, shortly after arrival from London on Friday.
He confirmed that he met with the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Recall that the governor of Rivers State was out of the country since Monday along with some governor allies, including Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.
While Wike was in London, former Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido, described Wike as an emperor, who dictates for some enslaved people of Rivers State.
Lamido’s statement arose from an alleged attack of Wike on some PDP stakeholders in the state, including, a former governor, Celestine Omeiha, a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Austine Opara and a former senator of Rivers South East Zone, Lee Maeba.
Speaking at the airport Wike said, “I can confirm that this is the first time as a team that we are meeting with presidential candidates.
“We met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC and we met with our leader, former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We met the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. We also met with our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. For whatever it is worth, consultation is ongoing.”
He added, “Whatever we’re talking about, is for the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It’s not parochial and tied to one person or group of persons.
“We believe that with what is going on, it will be for the interest of Nigerians at the end of the day.”
In an indirect reference to Sule Lamido and his critics in the country, he said, “Consultation is still ongoing. Never mind some people who do not believe in the existence of this country.
“Leadership isn’t about you and your family. Leadership is about everybody. It is unfortunate that we are in a country now where a man finishes eight years as a governor and brings his own son as a governor too and as a member of the National Assembly.
“It is only in this part of the world that you can see that when we are talking about poverty everywhere. These are people who don’t mean well for Nigeria.”
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