Rivers State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant Nyesom Wike on Tuesday paid a visit to the mother of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who died while in office 12 years ago on May 5, 2010.
The surprise visit by the governor is believed to be a part of his effort to clinch the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The video shared by Wike on his official Twitter page showed the governor sitting on the bed with a frail Hajia Aya Dada Yar’Adua at her Katsina home.
Watch the video below:
It was indeed an honour meeting Hajia Aya Dada Yar'Adua, mum of former President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. As wife of a former minister,mother of a former Governor,a former V/President & a former President she has been a blessing to Nigeria & is an important matriarch of our history pic.twitter.com/Q4VsTzu4Du
— Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (@GovWike) May 3, 2022
The old lady who spoke in Hausa, as interpreted to Wike by Shema, thanked the Rivers State Governor for the visit.
While in the state, Wike also visited Governor Bello Masari of Katsina State, elected on the platform of APC.
On arrival at the General Muhammadu Buhari Government House, Katsina, Wike said the visit was to formally inform and seek Masari’s support in line with his intention to run for the Office of the President of Nigeria come 2023.
Masari while responding, appealed to politicians across the country to play politics in such a way that the nation and political processes will survive “otherwise nobody will survive”.
According to him, most of the political actors in Katsina are products of the PDP.
Masari further appreciated the role played by Wike in not allowing the IPOB to penetrate Rivers State during the most difficult IPOB period, adding that he has also contributed immensely to the development of the political process in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media are unimpressed with the governor’s visit to Yaradua’s mum. Nigerians blasted Wike and accused him of using the visit as a way of getting favour for the 2023 elections.
READ | 2023: Nobody Is More Qualified Than Me To Be Nigeria’s President – Nyesom Wike
Below are some reactions from netizens:
zinny_oluwa wrote; ‘What is this now, invading this old woman’s privacy is not nice. Take ur strategy to somewhere else jor’
cul_me_ino wrote; ‘Strategy…why visiting now?’
chiefndozi wrote; ‘See as wike be like tax collector’
kiss_on_the_rose wrote; ‘‘Please pay Rivers Pensioners their arrears and gratuities, some of them are as old as this woman too….”Charity begins at home”..🙏
utchmanhez wrote; Make una no worry them go remember all of us now 😂😂😂house by house
blackcatechist wrote; ‘Suddenly he’s visiting Yar Adua’s mum. Please don’t let these guys fool you again.’
juwon622 wrote; ”Dem no visit the woman all this while na now dem remember am”
iam_gaucho_wrote; ”So.. the mama dey alive the good man just rush and die. I for know where Nigeria for dey now if him still dey alive”
In other news, the Senator representing Borno South District, Ali Ndume had called for power to shift to the South, stressing that the North will benefit more if a southerner becomes the next president in 2023.
READ MORE | 2023: North Will Benefit More If Southerner Becomes President – Senator Ali Ndume