By Gideon Njoku
The activities of the G5, a group of five dissident Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, seem to have come to an end. The five seem not to be together, again, as they were before the February 25, Presidential Election.
Months to the Election, they travelled everywhere together, within and outside Nigeria. To Europe, for example, they visited many times, as if they were going to the village stream to fetch water. 99 per cent of the time, they wore uniform, popular as asoebi, and travelled in private jets.
But it has not been the same since the Presidential and National Assembly Elections when three of their members lost elections.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, was not only roundly defeated in his bid to the Senate, he also lost his State to the All Progressives Congress, APC both in the Presidential election, and more painfully, in the Governorship election. He was not able to produce his successor.
The same fate which befell Ortom also befell Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. He lost his bid to the Senate, and his State fell to the Labour Party both at the Presidential and Governorship Elections.
In Enugu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi suffered same fate, almost. He lost his bid to the Senate, lost to the Labour Party at the Presidential Election, but was able to install his candidate as his successor, in a very hotly disputed election which is being challenged at the Governorship Election Tribunal.
The only G5 member, aside from Wike, who survived, is Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who won his second term as Governor. In Wike’s case, he was not on the ballot, but was able to install his successor in office, and in one of the most condemned elections, delivered his PDP State to the APC in the Presidential election.
It is not known if Ortom, Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi, have, on their own, because of their disgraceful losses, opted out of G5 activities, or, if they have been busy packing their things out of Government Houses, but not a few people were surprised that they were not in the company of Wike and Makinde when both visited President-elect, Bola Tinubu, at the Defence House, Abuja on Friday, April 28.
During the visit, Wike asked Nigerians to rally round President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
According to Wike, there is the need to support Tinubu in ensuring good governance.
Said Wike: “Elections have come and gone, and the winners have emerged. Therefore, it’s necessary for all Nigerians to rally round and give Tinubu the necessary support.
“Everybody is waiting for May 29 when Tinubu will be sworn-in and I’m confident he has what it takes to turn Nigeria around.”
Makinde pledged to support Tinubu’s Government, same way he pledged to support him win the Presidential election. Tinubu won in Oyo State.
Makinde: “I came here to basically pay homage to the President-elect and to let him know that elections are over and this is governance.
“We will do our best to give him support for good governance.”
It is strongly being speculated that Wike would bag a ministerial position in Tinubu’s Government. Perhaps, he will also muscle out positions for the three G5 members who lost their elections, allegedly, over their membership of G5.
G5s hard stand against the PDP, their Party, it has been said, is one of the main reasons PDP lost the Presidential election.
