Wike: Why Tinubu, APC choice of leadership of National Assembly must be supported

Nyesom Wike

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike

Former Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike has put up strong arguments on why the choice of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and President Bola Tinubu for leadership of the 10th National Assembly must be supported.

Wike spoke in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, according to a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri.

According to him, those opposed to the choice of Tinubu for are trying to lay a stumbling block for the President in the National Assembly.

He also strongly supported the zoning of the senate presidency to the South south as already determined by the President and the APC leadership.

He said those plotting against Tinubu’s choice of leadership of the National Assembly were those who were opposed to his presidential ambition.

He claimed that they were still hellbent on laying a stumbling block for him at the National Assembly through their opposition to Akpabio, his preferred choice for Senate President.

Akpabio pointed out that a cordial relationship between the leadership of the National Assembly and the presidency is necessary to prevent unnecessary conflict between the executive and National Assembly.

He said: “My position is that the (Senate) presidency should come to the South south.

“If you agree that (Senate) presidency should go to the south, tell me the truth, where should it go? It can’t be in the Southwest. It can’t be in the Southeast.

“Southsouth has only produced one Senate president, far back in 1979, Joseph Wayas. Southeast has produced over seven.”

“The party (APC) and the President appear to have a soft spot for Akpabio. I would have thought that people will say, look, allow this administration to start on a very good foundation, so nobody gives us excuses that why this administration could not start on good footing is because of the rancour between the executive and the legislature.”

“If Mr President doesn’t have a smooth administration, at the end of the day, who suffers? Is it not Nigerians? Let us believe that we are all one, let us give everyone a sense of belonging.”

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According to the former Rivers Governor, the preference of Tinubu and the APC for Akpabio, who is a Christian, is part of a deliberate strategy aimed at dispersing the misconception generated by the choice of Kashim Shettima, a Muslim, as the president’s running mate.

He added that by supporting Akpabio and appointing a former Benue State governor, George Akume, as Secretary to the Federation, President Tinubu had demonstrated his sincerity to balance the faith question.

“Muslim-Muslim ticket was a problem, coupled with the abysmal performance of the last government, it was a double jeopardy. PDP campaigned against it that this country can’t have a President as a Muslim and Vice President as a Muslim.

“Somehow, by the president’s own luck, God being by his side, and his doggedness, he was able to make it.

“Mind you, a lot of booty traps were set for Mr. President not to emerge as President. A lot of booty traps were set even by people in his own party. It is correct. There is no government in this world which is a ruling party that can bring up policies that will make your party be unpopular during an election period.

“Within that period of election, you brought the issue of Naira redesign and brought the issue of there was no fuel – two things that affected the masses. You will know it was a booty trap set against Asiwaju not to emerge. Nobody can deceive me that that policy was not targeted at him.”

Wike also said Tinubu had never during any of their meetings offered him appointment in his government as being speculated in the media.

“Every week, you see people reeling out different lists. What is my business? Mr President has not called me one day to say look this is what I want you to do, for me to say yes or no. But, you see people churning out lists. I’m sure this week another list will come out,” he said

Wike also commended Tinubu for his courage to end the fuel subsidy regime in the country.

According to him, the decision clearly distinguished the President as a man determined and prepared for leadership.

He said: “What President did was to tell Nigerians, I am prepared for this job, and that is why some of us we say give him a chance.”

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