2023: Wike’ll work for Tinubu, says Masari, as Atiku jets out

 Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, a close associate of Tinubu and placeholder before the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as Vice Presidential candidate of the APC yesterday, confirmed talks between presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, saying the latter has agreed to work for the success of the former in 2023.

Also confirming the meeting, the Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023 group said the meeting is a good omen for the party, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

But despite the London meeting, there were, however, conflicting reports that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, may have headed to London in an effort to woo the Rivers governor.

While a source said he left for London, another source from the former VP’s camp told Vanguard that he (Atiku) left Nigeria for Paris after attendig the opening ceremony of the annual conference of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

Similarly, a source within the Atiku camp said he (Atiku) has not given up on the Rivers governor.

This came as PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday, expressed confidence that the party will win at least 25 states in the 2023 general elections.

It will be recalled that the APC presidential candidate met with the Rivers governor and some PDP governors, including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and his Abia State counterpart, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and other PDP stalwarts loyal to Wike in London on Monday night.

Vanguard had reported amid the PDP crisis, Governor Wike and some of his allies travelled out of the country for what was described as a critical meeting on their political future.

Wike has agreed to work for Tinubu — Masari

Alhaji Masari, who spoke from London, told the BBC Hausa, yesterday, that Tinubu met Wike, adding that they would continue to meet in due course.

His words: “The meeting was basically on the 2023 presidential election and by God’s grace, we are going to work with Governor Nyesom Wike; he will assist and we are going to win the election with ease, by the will of God.”