‘My friend who will be second-term governor’ — Wike declares support for Sanwo-Olu

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Lagos counterpart, for a second term in office.

Wike spoke on Tuesday at a conference organised by the wives of Lagos state officials, held at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

Speaking at the conference, the Rivers governor described Sanwo-Olu as “my friend who will be a second-term governor”, adding that his presence at the event is because the Lagos governor is “doing well” for the people of the state.

“If Sanwo-Olu is not doing well, even if he belongs to my party, I won’t come. So, for me, if you are in my party and you are not doing well, you won’t see me,” Wike said.

“If you are not in my party and you are doing well, you will see me and that is what I stand for. And I will not regret to say that I’m in support of you.”

Sanwo-Olu is currently seeking re-election as governor of Lagos on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will complete his second term in office in 2023.

Meanwhile, Olajide ‘Jandor’ Adediran is the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos.

In recent weeks, Wike has held several meetings with leaders from other political parties amid the crisis in the PDP — a development that has generated several talking points.

The PDP crisis revolves around the division over the call for Iyorchia Ayu to step down as national chairman on the grounds that the party’s presidential candidate and national chairman cannot be from the same region.

Meanwhile, the Rivers APC had faulted a recent visit by APC governors to Wike, saying it is “embarrassing”.

WIKE DONATES N300M TO WIVES OF LAGOS OFFICIALS

At the conference, Wike announced the donation of N300 million to the committee of wives of Lagos state officials.

Wike said he is impressed by the projects executed by the committee, adding that he will replicate the “lessons” learnt from the women, in Rivers.

“We support this so that you can continue with your laudable projects with the sum of N300 million,” Wike said.