>
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that despite his political affiliation, he would not disrespect or malign the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Wike, who stated this on Friday, while reacting to a media report that he (Wike) during an inspection of projects done by Adamawa State governor, Umar Fintiri, in Yola, said Tinubu cannot see the presidency gate in 2023. He described the report as false.
A statement by the Special Assistant to Wike on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said that the governor (Wike) could not have stooped too low to disrespect Tinubu or the former National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
The statement noted that journalist had engaged the governor in a chat, adding that questions asked ranged from the purpose of his visit; the prospects of the Peoples Democratic Party winning the 2023 general election and Nigeria’s rating on the global corruption index recently published by Transparency International.
The statement read: “At no time during the interview session that lasted about five minutes did Governor Wike mention the names of Chief Tinubu and the APC’s former national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, or even alluded to them.
“We, therefore consider the report as preposterous, fabricated, malicious and intended to inflame relationship between Governor Wike and Chief Tinubu, whom the Rivers Chief Executive holds in high esteem.
“We wish to state without equivocation, that irrespective of political affiliation, Governor Wike has enormous respect for Chief Tinubu and will never say or do anything to malign the hard-earned reputation of the elder statesman.”