Tinubu said though he holds Wike in high esteem, no meeting took place between them.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu has put a lie to reports of a meeting between him and Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike in France ahead of the 2023 general election.
Tinubu had recently flown to France in what his handlers said was a continuation of high-level engagements with stakeholders.
Tinubu who made the rebuttal on Friday through a statement by his media office signed by Tunde Rahman, said although the APC flag bearer holds Wike in high esteem, no meeting took place between them.
The statement dismissed the purported meeting between Tinubu and Wike in France as fake news.
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The statement reads; “We have seen a viral social media post made by one of the chieftains of All Progressives Congress in Lagos State and media reports emanating from same about a supposed meeting in France between APC Presidential Standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
“It has become imperative to set the record straight. Although Asiwaju Tinubu is presently in France, he didn’t have any meeting with Governor Wike whether in that country or anywhere whatsoever.
“This, however, does not detract from the fact that the APC presidential candidate holds Governor Wike in high esteem.
“And given the national and across-party lines appeal of Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidature, he will not hesitate to meet any important national leader when desirable.
“As made public earlier, Asiwaju Tinubu is in France for some important engagements. He will return to the country shortly.
“We would like, once again, to advise journalists to always cross-check their information with appropriate officers before rushing to press to avoid unintended errors”, Rahman counselled.
Fears have been rife in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that following Gov Wike’s loss of the party’s presidential ticket to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the governor has not taken the outcome lightly. The PDP flag bearer shunning hi the pick Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, against the recommendation of the governors and other stakeholders, has not gone down well with him, fueling rumours of possible defection.