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Buhari: Umahi needs psychiatric test, says Wike

Mr Wike lampooned Mr Umahi for saying Nigeria should get another president like Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

• September 9, 2021
David Umahi and Nyesom Wike composite
A composite photo of David Umahi and Nyesom Wike

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike says his counterpart in Ebonyi, David Umahi, should undergo a psychiatric test for saying that Nigeria needs another leader like President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Mr Umahi had earlier in the week, when he visited the State House Abuja, said that he wished that Nigeria gets another leader like Mr Buhari. 

Reacting to Mr Umahi’s statement in a viral video, Mr Wike the Ebonyi governor needs psychiatric attention for making such statement. 

“I heard a governor saying that he prays that Nigeria gets another president like Buhari. I said what has gone wrong,” Mr Wike said pointing to his head. I mean there shouldn’t be a psychiatric test on that governor? 

Mr Wike further Mr Umahi’s statement stemmed out of sycophancy, dismissing it a so obvious even to Mr Buhari.

“You see sycophancy. He  (Mr Umahi) knows that the President knows that he is lying,” he said.

Once allies in opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Messrs Wike and Umahi fell out in the aftermath of the 2019 PDP presidential primaries.

Mr Umahi has since dumped the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress where he now idolises Mr Buhari.

Observers say Mr Umahi is eyeing the presidency in 2023 and his doing his bits to be in favourable consideration for the exalted seat.

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