Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, led two former governors in the G-5 Governors’ Forum, senators and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to pay a condolence visit to the governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde.
Wike, who arrived Makinde’s Ikolaba residence in company of the former governors of Abia and Benue states, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and Pastor Samuel Ortom, commiserated with the governor, stating that “whatever affects him also affects the G-5 Governors.”
The delegation also included Senators Philip Aduda, Mao Ohuabunwa, Olaka Nwogu, Sandy Onor and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche.
Similarly, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George; former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Makinde and Member of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye, were also at the Ikolaba home of the governor.
Speaking shortly after visiting Governor Makinde, Wike said: “We have come here today with my brothers – former governors of Benue and Abia States; former Deputy Speaker, House of Reps, Distinguished Senators and one of our illustrious sons from the United States of America, to pay a condolence visit to our friend and brother, the governor of Oyo State.
“As a member of the G5 Forum, we stand for fairness, equity and justice in this country. The loss of his older brother, who was also our senior brother, is also a loss to us. What affects him affects all of us.
“Seyi is somebody you would want to relate with and the death of his older brother was touching to all of us, because we know how close he was to his older brother. In summary, it has happened to us personally and we felt we should come and commiserate with him.
“At a time like this, that is when you identify loyal friends, but we believe that by the special grace of God, the older brother will rest in the bosom of the Lord and God will give the governor and his family the strength to bear the loss.”
The Minister, while responding to a question on the state of the nation, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “means well for the country and that Nigerians should look forward to better days.”
According to the Minister, if Nigerians want a remedy to the situation of the country, then they would have to be more patient, as according to him, the policies being implemented might have some effects, in the end, they would achieve the intended results.
“On the current state of the nation, I would just say that the people should be patient. But this country was something else a few years ago. This country was gone and if we want a remedy, with what Mr President is doing today, we need to be patient. It will take time.
“So, on the policies that Mr President is putting in place, they will have some effects and people will have to feel them but, at the end of the day, we will achieve what we are supposed to achieve.
“For me, nobody should panic, because Mr President means well for the country and Nigerians should expect better things,” Wike added.
Earlier, Chief George, who led PDP chieftains from Lagos State to Ibadan, said they came to condole with Governor Makinde on the demise of his brother.
“We thank God that it was the eldest brother that passed away. Nobody knows the time and that is why we have to always thank God whenever we wake.
“Our prayer for our deceased brother is that may the angels of heaven accept him into eternal rest and as we say in Yorubaland, odun a jinna sira.
“Seyi, the younger brother, still has a lot of roles to play in the family and he is an asset to the people of Oyo State. That is why we thought we should pay a condolence visit to him and strengthen him, because he cannot just lay back. The people of Oyo State are looking forward to more from him.”
In his response, Governor Makinde appreciated the delegations for their thoughtfulness in coming to pay him a condolence visit.
