Wike Tackles Uzodinma, Says “Era of Becoming Governor From Fourth Place Is Over”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, fired back at Progressives Governors Forum Chairman and Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma, who had accused him of interfering with the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure through his Rainbow Coalition.

The Minister chided Uzodinma, saying the era of becoming governor from the 4th position has gone, reminding him of the sad story of how Uzodinma manipulated his way from the 4th position to become governor of Imo State through Courts in the 2019 elections.

Uzodinma had earlier on Tuesday said the All Progressives Congress has no alliance with Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.

Lere Olayinka, the Spokesman for Nyesom Wike, in a statement on Tuesday, recalled how Hope Uzodinma found his way from the 4th position to become governor of Imo State.

Governors elected on the platform of the APC after a meeting in Abuja, distanced themselves from Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, accused Wike of undermining APC structure.

Nyesom Wike and governor Hope Uzodinma have been at each jugular politically, hence, the statement on Tuesday only confirmed a deep cut in the relationship.

In furtherance of carpeting Uzodinma, Wike declared that Rainbow Coalition had nothing to do with the All Progressives Congress, APC, stressed that politics is local and any APC governor having issues with their people should try to resolve rather than whipping sentiments using the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.

Wike said he needed not being an APC member to mobilise for the re-election of President Tinubu as he has always been doing.

According to him, he never promised anyone that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP loyal to him, would not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President, and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it the Rainbow Coalition? Were the voters confused?

“Was it the Rainbow Coalition that also made APC win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States, where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?

“If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the senatorial election and voted for another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027, provided we all support the President genuinely this time?

“After the President must have been re-elected, we can all go and face elections in our states.

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that the PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

“Most importantly, the Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he stated.