Tinubu Has Earned My Respect – Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike has sharply rebutted a news report alleging him to have said that Bola Tinubu would not see the gate of the presidency in 2023. To the contrary, the Rivers State governor said that Tinubu has earned his respect contrary to the insinuation in a news report by a national daily.

Wike in disowning the report purported to have come out from his engagement with the media in Yola, Adamawa State denied ever mentioning Tinubu or making reference to him directly or indirectly.

He accused the reporter of the national newspaper which quoted him as such as playing mischief.

Special Assistant on Media to Wike in a statement said:

“We wish to affirm that it is true that Governor Wike was in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State on February 4, to inspect some projects being executed by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

“And while inspecting the Greater Interchange and Underpass in Yola, some journalists requested for an interview which he graciously obliged them.

“The 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 in the global corruption index recently published by Transparency International.

“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.

Asserting that the report was malicious, and that Tinubu has earned his respect, Wike said it was “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.”