Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday stormed the Thanksgiving Service held in honour of former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

They were entertained by gory tales about how the governor and some members of his family had near encounters with death, among other issues.

*Tinubu, Akpabio, Barau, APC, PDP govs, leaders storm event

President Bola Tinubu was represented by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Serving Governors Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), joined the long list of VIPs at the event which was a Mecca of sorts.

High-ranking APC stalwarts and members of the 10th National Assembly led by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, ex-Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole; ex-Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Dave Umahi; member representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume; amongst others.
All members of the G5 including Wike, Makinde, and former Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) were seated at the event.

Another member of the Integrity Group and former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose; as well as Acting PDP Chairman, Umar Damagum; former Governors Peter Odili (Rivers), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), and James Ibori (Delta) were in attendance.
*Wike reveals January 2019 critical illness

He disclosed that he was supposed to speak at the 2019 January 1st state banquet but did not. Instead, his deputy governor spoke on his behalf.

The former governor stated further that many people were not aware of what was going on at that time.

He said “In December 2019, that day was the day my former chief of staff was going to have his Thanksgiving, and I was to attend that thanksgiving on a Sunday.

“From that Sunday on, I never came down from my room. It was bad. There are words I don’t want to use so that it does not look somehow, but those who attended the January 1st state banquet of 2019 will know that I never spoke that day.

“I just sat down there, and I told my deputy governor to speak on my behalf. People didn’t know what was going on, but after that banquet, at midnight, I was taking myself out of the country because I thought it was over.”

Wike said he was flown to Beirut, the capital of Lebanon and the doctors said his liver and kidney had been damaged.

He narrated, “When we got to Beirut, the doctors looked at me and I was looking at them. They were not telling me anything, they said we have to do many tests.

“They came back the next morning and they said, ‘Look, it was bad’. My kidney had gone. My liver had gone and they (doctors) were looking at me. I never knew that I had been poisoned in our campaign secretariat. My intestinal (were) all black.”

The former governor said miraculously, his failed organs were restored and his liver and kidney started functioning again.

“So, the doctors did all they could do. The

next day they came back, they said, ‘What is happening to you? They said everything is turning around. My liver is functioning now. My kidney is functioning. To the glory of God, after about one week, they said I can now go.”

*Wife’s cancer survival

Also yesterday, Wike revealed that his wife, Suzette, was diagnosed with cancer before the 2022 PDP presidential primaries.

Wike revealed that before the presidential primaries held in Abuja, Suzette had called him from the United Kingdom that she was diagnosed with cancer.

He stated further that after hearing the news, he called the PDP G5 that he couldn’t continue in the race to become the presidential flag bearer of the party.
He said, “When I was going to my presidential primaries, my wife called me from London and said she had been diagnosed with cancer. I said, “What do you mean?

“I brought my phone and called my G5 members who are supporting me, and I told the governors that there’s a problem. I don’t think I’ll continue with this race.

“So, I called my wife back, and she said no, so we started. So on the night of those primaries, I went with my wife to Abuja, and from nowhere she was told that fire had gotten into her room.”

“I said, “From where? They had to call the fire service; everything a woman should own was burned, and up until today, we have not repaired that room. Everything was burned, and nobody knew because I just kept quiet.
“That’s why I said some people don’t ask me what I’m passing through; you just want me to give it to you. You don’t know that inside me, I’m already dying. So I was just careful, and you know, when they say you’re diagnosed with cancer, you know what it is.

“Those who have experience will tell you, and as it is for me, I handed everything to God, and being a very strong woman, she never showed it, but thank God to the glory of God, she’s hale and hearty.”

*Akpabio’s comment

Speaking at the event, Akpabio urged Wike and his four other friends in the G5 to come up with another aggrieved group within the opposition PDP to make winning the 2027 presidential election a smooth ride for the ruling APC.

“I want to thank you for all your efforts to bring justice to Nigeria,” Akpabio told Wike who backed the return of power to Southern Nigeria and supported APC’s candidate, Bola Tinubu against his party’s choice, Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.

“And I want to thank the G5 Governors,” the Senate President said whilst addressing the G5 or the Integrity Group made up of five major aggrieved politicians within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who kicked against the emergence of Abubakar in the last February 25 poll.

“We are very delighted, we are proud to have G5. Please, ensure that in 2027, another G5 emerges so that APC will continue to do well in this country. And if you like, you can add two more, make it G7 and not only G5,” Akpabio added.