‘It’s Not Only Me’ — Wike lists G5 Governors who have benefited under Tinubu

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has rejected claims that he is the only member of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 governors benefiting from the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Wike said other members of the group had also received appointments or support under the Tinubu administration, citing former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

He spoke on Monday during an appearance on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout while responding to questions about his relationship with Tinubu and the political positions of the former G5 governors ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I do not understand what they say by enjoying Mr President,” Wike said, while recalling the process that preceded his appointment as a minister.

According to him, he consulted the PDP at the state, zonal and national levels before accepting the ministerial nomination, saying party stakeholders unanimously supported his decision to join the Federal Government.

“When I was nominated by Mr President to be considered as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I did write to the party. First of all, I wrote to my Governor; I wrote to my party at the state, zone, and national level that see what I have seen; what is your position?

“All of them, in a unanimous decision, said, look, you have to be a part of the government because we believe that our contribution will make a change, so everybody supported my being a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so the issue of only me enjoying is neither here nor there,” he said.

Wike then listed appointments and other forms of support which he said other members of the former G5 had received from the Tinubu administration.

He cited Ikpeazu, saying the former Abia governor is currently Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain.

“Let me also say clearly that, today as I speak to you, my dear brother, Gov. Ikpeazu is currently the Ambassador representing Nigeria in Spain,” Wike said.

He added that he was present when Ikpeazu presented his credentials.

“Luckily, I was there to attend his presentation and received his letter of Credence on the 14th of September,” he said.

Wike also cited former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, saying he is serving as Nigeria’s ambassador to Greece.

“My dear brother, Gov Ugwuanyi is the ambassador representing Nigeria in Greece, which I learnt has received his letter of Credence,” he said.

On Makinde, Wike said Tinubu had also extended support to the Oyo State governor through funding for the expansion of the Oyo airport.

“And Gov. Seyi, the president has also extended his hand of support to the governor of Oyo State by providing funds for him to expand Oyo airport with a whopping sum of 50 billion naira,” he said.

Wike said former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom was the only member of the G5 who, according to him, had not accepted a position in the Tinubu administration.

“I do know that it is only my brother, Gov. Ortom, who said he does not want a position but wants to continue to work for Mr President,” he said.

The G5 was made up of Wike, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi, Ortom and Makinde. The group became a major factor in the PDP’s internal crisis ahead of the 2023 presidential election after its members opposed the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and demanded the removal of then National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu.

The political paths of the five former governors have since diverged. Wike joined the Tinubu administration as a minister, while Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi have taken up ambassadorial appointments. Makinde remains governor of Oyo State, while Ortom has continued to publicly express support for Tinubu.

Wike’s comments also come amid renewed political debate over his Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The former Rivers governor has maintained that the coalition is focused on mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election, while some APC governors have raised concerns about political arrangements they believe could affect the party and its candidates.