I like it when state governors, ministers or other top government officials gather for meetings inside the Villa. It is always fun listening to these big men and women crack jokes and exchange banter. Beyond the hostilities some of them who belong to different political camps display in public, when they meet, they have ways of reaching out to one another. I always wish their followers who kill or maim because of them are present to learn the spirit of sportsmanship from their idols.
Most of the subjects of their discussions do not make the list of stories in the media most times, but that is what this column has been achieving over the years – serving you news behind the news.
A meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum was held on Wednesday night inside the old Banquet Hall of the Villa. State governors elected on the platforms of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party attended.
The most interesting part of the meeting was when Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, arrived the venue. He arrived at the same time with his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi. Both of them are of the PDP.
Immediately Wike stepped into the hall, he saw the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who was busy perusing the documents given to him by members of staff of the forum’s secretariat. Some other state governors like Nasir El-Rufai, were already seated at the time. Wike started shouting, “State of Osun! State of Osun!!” Aregbesola of the APC stood up to acknowledge his colleague’s greeting. Both of them embraced as photojournalists clicked away. Holding tight to each other, they kept laughing in a manner that suggested that they knew something that we did not know.
While that was playing out, Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who is also an APC governor joined them. Then Ahmed started hailing Wike by saying, “Rivers, Rivers.” Aregbesola thought he could seize the opportunity to hit Wike. He helped Ahmed conclude his statement by saying “Rivers of violence!”
The Rivers State Governor would not allow that go unchallenged. He replied Aregbesola, “Which violence? The one you brought to the state?” While the three of them were still laughing, the Osun State Governor denied being behind any violence in Rivers State. But Wike was not through with him yet. He held Aregbesola tightly and said, “You plotted and plotted and plotted, but the people of the state said no way!” He must be referring to the efforts made by the APC to win elections in Rivers State. They all laughed.
Wike stepped out to exchange pleasantries with some other persons and by the time he returned, somebody else had sat on the chair he wanted to sit on beside Aregbesola. A chair was provided for him between the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Umahi. He said jokingly that he was happy to be far from Aregbesola.
While he was still throwing banter, the Chairman of the NGF, Abdulaziz Yari, called the meeting to order and asked Wike to offer the opening prayers. The hall erupted in laughter. The governor wanted to know the reason he was saddled with that responsibility. “Why me?” he asked Yari. He however did not wait for the reply before he told the Zamfara State Governor who is also an APC governor that, “I don’t even know whether to pray for you to survive.” They all laughed again. Thereafter, Wike proceeded to pray for the success of the meeting.
The following day, the National Economic Council’s meeting was held and again, Wike stole the show. This time, it was Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who embraced and held Wike’s hands for a very long time, repeating, “He used to be my friend,” just as photographers were busy.
They were joined by Yari and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. During the ensuing discussion, Wike and Fayemi made allusions to the Rivers and Ekiti elections and there were accusations and counter accusations on alleged rigging. Wike asked Fayemi why the APC was bent on “taking” all (states). “Didn’t you (PDP) take all in my (Ekiti) state?” Fayemi asked. The Rivers governor told the minister that the PDP won in Ekiti but Fayemi would not hear that. “You won or you rigged?” he asked again. Wike insisted that the PDP won and they all laughed again.
A national newspaper on Friday published the dramatic photograph of that encounter showing Wike, Tambuwal, Fayemi and Yari on its front page and wondered what was responsible for what it described as “executive excitement” depicted in the picture. I hope I have helped in providing the answer.
Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who I reported here last week that he was planning to become President Muhammadu Buhari’s son-in-law also joined another group of governors where he introduced Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State as his in-law. “He is my in-law. He gave me a wife. You can confirm from him,” Bello told those who cared to listen. The former labour leader confirmed the assertion by nodding.
Written by:- Olalekan Adetayo
Source:- Punch
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