Babachir Lawal, Dogara and Wike met in Rivers after they all spoke at different fora, disagreeing with their various political parties presidential candidates.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Twenty four hours after Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike railed against the flagbearer of his party, Atiku Abubakar, he met with some aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) members protesting the decision of their party’s standard bearer, Bola Tinubu, for picking a fellow Muslim as running mate.
The APC members – former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday visited Wike in Rivers State.
Wike had earlier met three governors of the APC from the South West, including Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi in what appears to be an attempt to recruit him into the Tinubu team. The meeting appears not to have produced any result.
The meeting between Wike, Lawal and Dogara was held at Governor Wike’s country home in Rumueprikom, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
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Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Dogara said the visit was hinged on the quest and search to build an all-inclusive Nigeria.
“Everyone agrees with us that Governor Wike is one of those indispensable political leaders. For us, it is a search to build an all inclusive Nigeria. So we feel that as part of the agenda setting we should meet with him and that is the reason why we are here. And for the rest, whatever it is, maybe in the future we can discuss that.”
Similarly, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation explained that their mission was a brotherly visit to the governor of Rivers State.
“We came to visit our brother. He (Wike) is our brother. So, every now and then, the Bible enjoins you to visit one another. That is what we just did.”
Lawal said the interaction with the governor had nothing to do with the meeting some northern leaders held in Abuja on Friday.
“No, there are many things in the world for which you need to visit a brother, so there is nothing to do with our meeting in Abuja.”
At the Abuja meeting, Dogara and Lawal had rejected the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They urged Christians not to vote for any presidential ticket that does not have a Christian in it.