I couldn’t have won presidential poll without your support, Tinubu tells Wike

Bola Tinubu, president-elect, says he couldn’t have won the presidential election without the support of Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers.

On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu as the winner of the election with a total of 8,794,726 votes.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the second-highest figure with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) was next with 6,101,533 votes.

The two runners up have since taken the matter to court, challenging the victory of the former Lagos governor through judicial measures, while their supporters engage in unending media tussles.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Raumuokwuta/Rumuola flyover bridge in Portharcourt, the capital of the state, on Wednesday, Tinubu said the structural support given by Wike played a significant role in his victory at the poll.

He said he won the presidential election “fair and square”, adding that he went through a difficult campaign but eventually emerged victorious.

“I went through a gruesome campaign, fought hard, supported by many of you and I won. Fair and square. Nyesom, I say thank you for your contribution to my victory,” he said.

“I couldn’t have done it without some structural support you gave me which I can’t describe (repay) in my honouring of your invitation to commission this flyover.

“In his excellency, I see a man of principle. He took a principled stance that the presidency must come to the south and he had the courage to stand by his own conviction not minding whose ox is gored.

“He is indeed a man of great integrity, he didn’t choose to serve his own interest, not about him but the interest of the nation. You promoted unity, you promoted fairness, you championed justice. Thank you.”

Tinubu said he honoured the invitation for the inauguration because of Wike’s strength of character.

“My invitation to commission this project today is another way of building bridges, which cannot be overstated in Nigeria. It is on the strength of your character that I stand to fulfill the promise I made to you during the campaign,” Tinubu said.