Immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and a former member of the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe are jostling for the state ministerial slot in the new administration of President Bola Tinubu, a source revealed at the weekend....CONTINUE READING
The source disclosed that Abe, a long time ally of President Tinubu should ordinarily be the favourite but some past and serving governors as well as powerful political forces within the All Progressive Congress (APC) are rooting for Wike…..CONTINUE READING
According to the source, those who are with Wike feels he deserved it more, going by the role he played in ensuring that the APC won Rivers State in the February 25 presidential election and his hatchet job of distabilizing his party, the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar before and during the election.
It was gathered that the closed door meeting between Tinubu, Wike, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and former governor of Delta State, James Ibori on Friday at the Villa was to further the discussion on the issue.
Wike it was learnt had gone to the Villa with Makinde and Ibori to remind the President “not to forget him” as he prepares to form his cabinet after the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly this month.
Although it was not clear if the President made any commitment during the meeting but some close aides to the former Rivers governor have been boasting that it is a done deal as their principal will be in the next Federal Executive Council.
Another reliable source confided in our correspondent that those against Wike’s nomination as a Minister are hinging their argument on his larger-than-life attitude and the fact that he was yet to officially move over to the APC.
The source said: “Wike is favoured to be in the next cabinet but there are people who are opposed to that. They feel that apart from being very loquacious, he is a rebel king who can cause great problem for the new President when he doesn’t have his way in some issues of interest.
“There are people within the President who want Abe because of his loyalty to Tinubu over the years. Don’t forget that recently he withdrew his petition from the Tribunal just to avoid any conflict of interest between him and Tinubu.
“Abe has been in the APC since and he only moved to the SDP to pursue his guber ambition and now he has returned to the party. So, it will be unfair to him if Wike takes the slot and these are some of the argument of the pro-Abe promoters”, the source added…..CONTINUE READING
