ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has led other aggrieved four Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) otherwise known as PDP G-5, to pledge their support to Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, to secure a second term in next year’s general elections.
The meeting comes on the heels of reconciliation between Governor Mohammed and Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday night in Abuja.
The group expressed its support for Governor Mohammed on Wednesday during a visit to Bauchi in solidarity with him (Bala Mohammed).
The Bauchi Governor had accused the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of working with a group of politicians from the State to scuttle his 2023 re-election bid.
However, both Atiku and Mohammed have resolved their differences and agreed to work together for electoral victory in 2023 after their meeting in Abuja on Tuesday night.
But, speaking on behalf of the G-5 Governors at the Ramat House in Bauchi, Governor Wike said whatever affects Governor Bala Mohammed also affects them as a group, hence their decision to reach out to him with support for his second term bid.
Wike said although the Bauchi Governor has done so well that the people of the State will vote for him in the 2023 governorship election, they felt their support at this critical time was important to him.
“We are no longer running for the second tenure even though some of us are going for Senate tickets in their respective States, I am the only one who is not running for any election after failing the presidential primaries,” Wike stated.
Responding, Bauchi State Governor said the support of the G-5 governors for him at this time when anti-party activities and treachery were the order of the day in the State chapter of PDP, could not be taken for granted, according to Leadership.
He, however, wondered why he was not made a member of the PDP G-5 from inception.
“The G-5 governors excommunicated me for some reason best known to them. In politics, you go with people you have things in common with them,” Mohammed said.
The G-5 governors comprising Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Samuel Ortom of Benue State are currently in a closed-door meeting with Governor Mohammed while Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, was conspicuously absent.