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Why I congratulated Buhari —Wike

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Soldiers recount how they were brutalized by 'Wike's police'

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has defended his earlier congratulatory message to President Muhammadu Buhari over his victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The tribunal had dismissed the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the outcome of the February 23 election.

Few hours after the tribunal’s verdict on Wednesday, Wike had through his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, congratulated President Buhari and urged him to use his victory to work for Nigeria’s unity.

Wike, who was the coordinator of Atiku’s campaign in the south-south during the 2019 presidential election, stated that it was better to offer public congratulations than visiting the president at night.

He added that he made his declaration public because it came from the heart.

READ ALSO: TRIBUNAL VERDICT: Wike breaks with PDP, Atiku, congratulates Buhari

The Rivers State governor made this comment when he spoke at the funeral service of late Madam Blessing Awuse, mother of one of PDP leaders in the state, Sergeant Awuse, held at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Emohua, on Thursday.

He said, “I am sure all of you are surprised that I congratulated Buhari.

“Is it not good for me to congratulate him than to go to his house in the night?

“Many PDP governors go to see him in his house in the night. I have never gone and I will not go. I won’t go.

“We are the only state that the Federal Government refused to pay us our money used to execute federal projects because I don’t go to see him in the night and I won’t go.

“He is not my friend; he is not doing well, but he won in court.

“Should I say that the court did wrong? No.

“President Buhari, congratulations and carry Nigerians along.

“Unify the country; the country is too divided.

“I am saying what is right. What I will do, I will do; what I will not do, I will not do.”

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