Nduka Obaigbena, founder of THISDAY and Arise TV, has taunted Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state.
Obaigbena mocked Wike when he hosted some guests who attended the funeral of Margaret Obaigbena, his mother, on Saturday, in Owa-Onyibu, Delta state.
While hailing Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, whom he described as the country’s “future president”, the THISDAY chairman said “Wike lule”.
“Lule” is a word in Yoruba which means “fallen or failed”. Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), gave resonance to the word in an outburst — when he said it was his turn to be president (Emi lo kan).
“Chairman of PDP governors forum, Tambuwal! Presidential candidate, Tambuwal! Wike ‘lule’, Tambuwal! Wike ‘lule’, Tambuwal! Wike ‘lule’, Tambuwal! Future president, Tambuwal!,” Obaigbena joked.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in a crisis since it held its presidential primary election in May.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar clinched the party’s ticket after the dramatic withdrawal of Tambuwal from the race. Tambuwal had asked his supporters to support the former vice-president.
The crisis in the party escalated after Atiku picked Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, as his running mate
Party stakeholders had expressed concerns that Atiku ignored Wike — who was said to have been preferred by a majority of the national working committee (NWC) members as the candidate for the position.
Despite meetings that have been held, Atiku and Wike are yet to broker a truce.
