• Reveals he would be happy if Obaseki joins PDP
By Muhammed Saheed
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has blasted the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) following the disqualification of Mr Godwin Obaseki, his Edo State counterpart, declaring that it has become toothless under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Wike made this statement while speaking with reporters on Monday, 15, June 2020 at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Ravens earlier reported that Mr Obaseki had been disqualified by the All Progressives Congress Screening Committee from participating in the forthcoming primary election ahead of the September gubernatorial election over “defective qualifications”.
In the same vein, Mr Obaseki had yesterday, 14, June 2020 paid a courtesy visit to Mr Wike in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where they rubbed minds together on sundry issues.
Reacting to the unfolding development, Wike said, “Ordinary, I would not speak on it (Obaseki’s fate), 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.
“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 Adam’s Oshiomhole described him as a product of Nigeria’s premier university, who went to the US and came back with a masters degree.
When Wike was asked on the tendency of Obaseki defecting to the ruling opposition party, PDP, he said though they had discussion when he (Obaseki) came yesterday, shared opinions but he never said he would defect.
“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”, Wike said.
He asserted that the treatment being shown to the Governor by the All Progressive Congress leadership was quite unfortunate, and the silence of the NGF added more salt to the wound.
“How can I be happy about the way he was disqualified? How can you disqualify a sitting governor? You asked a Commissioner to screen a sitting governor and disqualify him.
“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”, he declared.
