Wike’s Katsina Visit – Politicians Must Work Together Irrespective of Party for Nigeria to Succeed – Masari, Wike
Rivers State Governor, His Excellency Barr. Nyesom
Wike was in Katsina State on Tuesday to make known his intention to run for the
position of the President of Nigeria.
Wike was well received at the Katsina airport by the People’s
Democratic Party, PDP stalwarts led by the former Governor of Katsina State and
the PDP State Leader, His Excellency Ibrahim Shema.
Also present to receive the Presidential aspirant is
the former Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, the current PDP
State Party Chairman and also a strong contending governorship aspirant in the
state, Hon. Yusuf Salisu Majigiri, the past ALGON Chairman of the state and a
House of Representatives aspirant representing Kaita/Jibia constituency in the
forthcoming 2023 General Elections, Hon Ibrahim Lawal Dankaba, amongst many
others.
During a brief stopover at the Katsina State
Government House, Governor Wike while informing the Katsina State Governor, His
Excellency, Aminu Bello Masari of his intention to run for President said he
was in Katsina State to relate with PDP delegates who are expected to elect the
party flag bearer during the forthcoming PDP National Convention this May.
Wike however sited the good relationship Rivers and
Katsina States have enjoyed before now, revealing that no political party will
be strong enough to severe that which they states share. “We cannot say you belong
to another party and so not give you that respect you deserve. In our
tradition, party cannot divide us. Party is a vehicle that conveys you to a
point of destination”.
While reiterating on the need for national unity, Wike
said that regardless of political affiliations, politicians must see national
unity above their political interest at all time.
He assured Masari that the relationship they share
will continue irrespective of their various political parties.
In his response, Governor Masari expressed his
satisfaction with the visit noting that, “if there’s any one state that I can
count on for 100% support during my days as Speaker in the House of
Representatives, it was Rivers State and we remain friendly up till this
moment”.
Masari, who is of the All Progressives Congress, APC noted that, “anyone coming from Rivers State to
wherever I am is welcome into my personal house or official residence”.
While he appealed to politicians in the country to “play
politics in a way that the polity can survive, or else their negative actions
may consume everyone”, Masari insisted that it was necessary that politicians,
“play by the rules we set for ourselves and not do anything that will injure or
endanger the process”.
During his Katsina visit, Governor Nyesom Wike paid a
visit to Hajia Aya Dada Yar’Adua, the mother of late President Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua, who was also a past Governor of Katsina State under the PDP, the home
of the immediate past governor of Katsina State, His Excellency, Barr. Ibrahim
Shema, as well as the PDP Party Secretariat.