The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has once again tackled the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma following controversy over Rainbow Coalition’s alliances.
In what appeared to be a direct jibe at Uzodinma, Wike, in a statement by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said Nigeria’s politics had gone beyond becoming governor from the fourth position.
Recall that governors elected under the All Progressives Congress, APC had tackled Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.
The governors made their positions known following a meeting chaired by Uzodinma, where they indirectly distanced themselves from Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.
The development had further brought to the fore the rift between Wike and Uzodinma ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a direct reaction to the APC governors stance, Wike clarified that the Rainbow Coalition had nothing to do with the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He challenged the APC governors, especially Uzodinma, saying politics was local and those having problems in their states should resolve them instead of using the re-election of the President to whip up sentiments.
According to him, he had always stood for mobilising support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, he stressed that he never promised anyone that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP loyal to him, would not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President, and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it the Rainbow Coalition? Were the voters confused?
“Was it the Rainbow Coalition that also made APC win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States, where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?
“If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the senatorial election and voted for another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027, provided we all support the President genuinely this time?
“After the President must have been re-elected, we can all go and face elections in our states.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that the PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
“Most importantly, the Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he stated.
Politics no longer about becoming governor from fourth position – Wike replies Uzodinma