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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said he will be glad to have Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obaseki was disqualified by the screening committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC), from contesting for the party’s primary election due to some defects in his High School Certificate and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Certificate.
He however vowed not to appeal the decision by the party, which signalled a possible move to the main opposition PDP.
Governor Wike, who hosted the governor on Sunday at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, told newsmen on Monday, he will be happy to receive Obaseki in his party’s fold.
“Yes, he came to see me yesterday; both of us are South-south governors. We sat down and discussed issues, seek opinions and compared notes. He has not said he wants to come to PDP; he is meeting with us and holding discussions to determine, but I will be happy if he comes,” he said when asked on the possible defection of the Edo governor.
“Obaseki is a member of the APC, I campaigned against him in 2016 but how can you say a sitting governor is being disqualified because some of his certificates are defective? He was presented by the National Chairman of APC, when he was governor. I was watching a video where Adams Oshiomhole described him as a product of Nigeria’s premier university, who went to the US and came back with a masters degree.
The Rivers governor expressed dismay over the silence of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) on the issue.
“Ordinary, I would not speak on it but the NGF has become a toothless bulldog that can only bark and not bite. It is quite unfortunate that I belong to such a forum. Nobody seems to respect the Governors Forum again because we have given ourselves out,” he said.
“Since 2015 when the APC took over leadership of the Governor’s Forum, everything died; the forum is not what we used to have. It used to be a powerful forum. The APC has killed it and the forum is now focused on the interests of the ruling party, instead of focusing on good governance and interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“When the IG (Ibrahim Idris) withdrew my security aides and exposed me to danger, the Governors did not say anything. Yari (Abubakar) was the (NGF) President and a member of the APC. I told them that they’re being captured, and today the forum has become a Beggars Forum because they have to beg for everything.”
Wike further criticised the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), comprising state governors on the platform of the APC, stating that Obaseki’s fate was a slap on the union’s face.
He said the APC has thrown caution into the wind and has decided to acquire Edo by brute force.
Obaseki however noted he will disclose his next move after consulting with his supporters and the President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“I appreciate the sustained show of solidarity, support and goodwill from Edo people and Nigerians in the face of injustice by the @OfficialAPCNg screening committee. I will be making my next move known after I complete consultations with my supporters and meet with @MBuhari,” he said in a tweet on Sunday.
