Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says himself and his allies, known as the G5 or the Integrity Group, have not endorsed any presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general election.
Wike, who is the leader of the group, described reports that the G5 has struck any deal with a presidential candidate as untrue, saying he and his allies will make their decision known to Nigerians.
There were reports that the five governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in London, the United Kingdom to finalise a deal on the 2023 presidency.
Reports had also emerged that the governors had endorsed the presidential flag-bearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, ahead of next year’s general election.
The aggrieved governors, Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), have since fallen out with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, over his alleged refusal to prevail on the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, to resign after the former Vice President clinched the presidential ticket of the opposition party.
The governors insisted that it is unfair for the main opposition party to have the national chairman and presidential candidate from the northern region of the country.
However, Governor Wike, while speaking at the flag-off of the construction of Eneka-Igbo Etche Road in Rivers State on Friday, said: “They said Wike had an interview with BBC and he said we have a deal with so and so. Meanwhile, no video, no audio and some of you waste your time listening to such things.
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“Don’t you know that when I want to do something, I will do it? Don’t you know? Do you need to speculate? You don’t need to speculate.
“They said there is trouble but there is no trouble. What we have is an introduction to the trouble that is going to come.
“So, my dear people, I just want to tell you that whatever decision I will take, I will let you know. I cannot take any decision without taking advice from you,” he stated.
The governor further accused Atiku of holding secret meetings with APC governors and failing to keep to his promise of not having the PDP presidential candidate and the party’s chairman from the same region.
Wike, however, urged detractors to leave members of the G5 alone, adding: “I just want to enjoy myself and my family.”
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