Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says he told Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, to issue a statement declaring his support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Wike spoke on Wednesday during his monthly media chat with
selected journalists in Port Harcourt, where he addressed issues bordering on
his relationship with some governors across the country.
Adeleke, who contested his re-election on the platform of
Accord, defeated Bola Oyebamiji in the August 15 governorship election held
across the 30 LGAs in Osun.
The governor defeated his close rival by a margin of over
60,000 votes, winning in 19 LGAs while the APC candidate was victorious in the
remaining 11.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated the governor, describing
his re-election as a “fitting assurance” that democracy will continue to
flourish under his administration.
Days after the election, Tinubu held a closed-door meeting
with Adeleke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The governor presented his certificate of return to the
president, thanking him for allowing what he described as a “free and fair
election” to hold in Osun.
Adeleke and some of his allies, including David Adeleke, his
cousin popularly known as Davido, also visited Wike at his residence in Abuja,
where they celebrated the victory.
‘I CALLED ADELEKE FROM CROATIA’
During the media chat, Wike said he influenced Adeleke to
make the moves in fulfilment of his promise to support Tinubu’s second-term
bid.
“On that election day, I was not in Nigeria. I was outside
the country,” Wike said.
“After the Osun election, you can go on record and ask
Adeleke. I called him when I was in Croatia. I said, you told me you would
support Mr. President. He said, yes.
“I said, now you have won, issue a statement that you will
still support Mr. President, thanking him for a free and fair election.
“He issued the statement. I also told him, Adeleke, when you
receive your certificate of return, go and present it to Mr. President.”
The minister said the move was aimed at preventing the
African Democratic Congress (ADC) from luring the governor into its camp.
“Why was that strategy? To knock off these people you call
opposition, coming to curry favour. When Adeleke issued that statement, ADC
withdrew,” Wike said.
He said his major concern after the election was whether
Adeleke would keep his promise to support Tinubu.
“My concern was, if Adeleke wins, will he still support Mr.
President? That was my interest, so I called him,” Wike said.
“I said, listen, you have told me you will support Mr.
President. Are you going to keep to it? He said he was going to keep to it. I
wished him good luck.
“Anywhere I sit, my strategy, my thinking is: how will the
president win this election?”
Days after the Osun election, Wike said Tinubu could have
secured victory for the APC in the poll if the president wanted it “at all
costs”.
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