I didn’t meet Wike in France, says Tinubu

Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Bola Tinubu, has dismissed reports that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, met with him in France.

There have been rancour in the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party following its presidential primary and the choosing of a running mate for the flag bearer of the party in the 2023 presidential election.

Theeditorial.ng gathered that a panel had recommended Wike who came second during the presidential primary to Atiku, but Atiku picked Okowa against the recommendation.

This pitched him against the Rivers State governor and the people in his camp.

On Wednesday, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, lambasted Atiku for jettisoning the recommendation of a committee he constituted.

He said, “Fourteen of us in the committee said the person should be Nyesom Wike, unfortunately Atiku picked Okowa in his wisdom. You cannot ignore a decision of a committee you set up yourself and expect people to be happy.”

Similarly, a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, insisted that the southern part of the country must produce the next president of the country.

On Thursday, Joe Igbokwe, an APC chieftain, in a Facebook post which was later deleted, claimed Wike met with Tinubu in France. The claim ballooned the speculation about the impending defection of the Rivers State governor to the APC.

Reacting in a statement his media office issued on his behalf on Friday, Tinubu said the supposed meeting with Wike in France is ‘Fake News.’

The statement reads, “We have seen a viral social media post made by one of the chieftains of All Progressives Congress in Lagos State and media reports emanating from same about a supposed meeting in France between APC Presidential Standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

“It has become imperative to set the record straight. Although Asiwaju Tinubu is presently in France, he didn’t have any meeting with Governor Wike whether in that country or anywhere whatsoever.

“This, however, does not detract from the fact that the APC presidential candidate holds Governor Wike in high esteem. And given the national and across-party lines appeal of Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidature, he will not hesitate to meet any important national leader when desirable.

“As made public earlier, Asiwaju Tinubu is in France for some important engagements. He will return to the country shortly. We would like, once again, to advice journalists to always cross-check their information with appropriate officers before rushing to press to avoid unintended errors.”