Forgive me for stopping you from running for governorship, Wike apologises to Obuah

… says nothing would make him disobey President Tinubu

Former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has apologised to the former state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, for truncating his ambition to contest for the office of governor of the state in 2023.

Wike tendered his apology on Saturday 13th January when he joined Obuah for his New Year’s Thanksgiving at his country home in Ogba/Egbema LGA of Rivers State.

The Minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and other dignitaries used the opportunity to apologise to his host, Obuah, for stopping him from contesting the Governorship primaries in 2023.

Wike also took out time to commend the character of Obuah,  praising his host for the contribution of Obuah to his political success, adding that Obuah was in a deserving position to be supported for Governor in 2023.

“If we did things based on your contribution or support Ground (Felix Obuah) should be among the first two people I should support.

“Today I will use this opportunity to commend the character of Felix Obuah. In 2023 I told him you would not run, and he said okay Sir, I would not. I know his capacity, I know if I had allowed that election, if I had allowed him to run some people would not be Governor today. I not only told him not to run I told him to go and be the Director General of the campaign.

“I want to use this opportunity to apologise to all of you, to Ogba, Egbema and Ndoni people for taking a decision that hurt you.”

“When a leader takes a wrong decision nothing stops the leader from coming back to accept his mistake,” he said.

While responding to the call by the Oba of Ogba land, for a peaceful resolution of the political crises in the state, Wike stressed that he could not disobey directives of President Bola Tinubu.

He said:  “Mr President has called us and Oba has spoken to me.”  “I will accept whatever Mr President has said and to the glory of God our team has kept our part.” “There is nothing in this world that would make me disobey Mr President’s directive.”

In his remarks the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri applauded Obuah for his relationship with his people, he went on to describe Wike as the political leader of not just Rivers State but the leader of the South-South with relationships and goodwill across the country.

Describing Wike he said, ” he has built friendships across the length and breadth of Nigeria.” ” Apart from the President and Commander in Chief, H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there is no Nigerian today that has the kind of appeal, connection or support the Minister of the FCT has across the country.”

The event which had prominent across party lines in attendance also had goodwill messages from members of the National Assembly represented by Senator Barry Mpigi, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Chibudum Nwuche, National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the South-South Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Hon Tombari Giadom.