Wike and Umahi Reunite To Launch Rivers Project

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State paid a visit to Rivers State counterpart Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt, the state capital, for the fourth time in six months on Monday.

Wike and Umahi were former All Progressives Congress (APC) allies before the latter joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Following the defection of the governor of Ebonyi State to the APC, the two engaged in a verbal brawl.

However, the former adversaries may have sealed their reconciliation when Umahi visited Wike for the fourth time in six months on Monday. He previously paid visits to the governor of Rivers in June, August, and October 2022.

While previous meetings were held behind closed doors, Umahi is in Rivers this time to officially open the Akpabu-Itu-Umudiogha road in the Emohua Local Government Area on Tuesday.

Wike welcomed him warmly at his private residence in Port Harcourt.

Wike, a PDP strongman, had invited opposition politicians to commission projects in the oil-rich South-South state. The Rivers governor stated that he invited opposition politicians to commission projects in his state so that they could see them firsthand and report back to their party leaders.

The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso, recently commissioned projects in Rivers. Wike’s projects in Rivers have also been inaugurated by former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Wike and Umahi had a long history as political allies before the Ebonyi governor left the PDP for the APC in November 2020. He would later run in the APC presidential primary in mid-2022, but would be defeated by former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu.

Wike also lost the PDP presidential primary in May to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Since their defeats, the two governors appeared to be open to reconciliation.

Wike and four other PDP governors (Oyo, Enugu, Abia, and Benue) have been demanding the removal of PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu as a precondition for supporting Atiku for months.

While he has not campaigned for Atiku, Wike has recently pledged logistical assistance to Kwankwaso and Obi.

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