Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Monday visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind closed-door in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He was accompanied by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue.
It was gathered that they all arrived at Obasanjo’s residence at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) around 7:01 p.m. and went straight into a meeting.
Addressing members of the press after the closed-door meeting which held for over an hour, Wike said he visited Obasanjo to continue his nationwide consultations on his presidential ambition in 2023.
Recall that Wike had declared his ambition to contest for presidency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking further, Wike said it is important to consult with Obasanjo who had ruled Nigeria twice in the past.
In his words, “We have come to consult our leader; to consult (with) somebody who has presided over the affairs of this country, not just as a president, but also as a former military head of state. The kind of experience he had and the passion he has for this country coupled with his continuous preaching for unity and peace is something to be emulated.
“This country requires somebody who has the courage, somebody who can take a firm decision and somebody who wants to unite Nigerians, and that is what we think that we should do.”
Speaking also with the journalists, former president also admitted that Wike came to see him over his presidential ambition.
According to Obasanjo, Nigeria is a complex country, noting that Wike has the capacity to lead the country because of his courage.
He also reiterated his call for all hands to be on deck to address the numerous challenges rocking the country.
He said, “Of course, Governor Nyesom Wike as a presidential aspirant with Governor of Oyo, Governor of Benue, former Governor of Cross River and former Deputy Senate President and former Minister to express to me the desire and of course I made the point that I have always made that, I have ceased to be a partisan politician, I don’t belong to any political party, but if politics is the welfare of the people, I cannot cease to be a politician because I must always seek the welfare of the people.
“And of course, you all know what the situation of Nigeria is, and anybody who doesn’t know that is either not a Nigerian or is not being truthful to themselves, and we need, as I often said, no one individual can say yes I can do it, because the situation Nigeria is today, we need all hands, all Nigerian hands on deck to restore Nigeria and that is what Governor Wike is saying to me.
“Courage, he doesn’t lack it, and if you have courage and you have the conviction to speak your mind, well, you will have a saying in this part of the world that a person who speaks the truth all the time may not even get a mat spread for him because you will incur the displeasure of people, but you need the truth to be spoken and to get ourselves moved Nigeria on the path of unity.
“Of course, we cannot get unity if there is no justice, no fairness, or no equity. And when you have the basic ingredients that will bring unity and inclusiveness, then all other things will take their position. You will remove conflict, and you will be able to deal with this pernicious issue of insecurity and, of course, the issue of the economy and the wholesomeness of society.
“The issues he raised are the ones dear to my own heart for the unity and stability of Nigeria.
“There is one thing that I believe in, and I have always said it over and over again, Nigeria is a complex country, but Nigeria is not a difficult country; if we are sincere and fair to ourselves, it is not a difficult country to manage, and I wish him well.”
