The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he chose to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari openly after his victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

WuzupNigeria reports that the tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar against the victory of Buhari in the February 23 Presidential election.

Defying his party and its candidate’s decision to seek redress at the Supreme Court, Wike openly congratulated Buhari on Wednesday after the tribunal ruling, raising eyebrows among some PDP members and Nigerians on social media.

Defending his action, Wike said he took the decision because it was better to offer public congratulations than visit the President at night.

He said unlike some PDP governors who visit the president at night, he made his declaration public because it came from the heart.

He spoke at the funeral service of late Madam Blessing Awuse, mother of one of PDP leaders in the state, Sergeant Awuse, held at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Emohua, on Thursday.

He said,

“I am sure all of you are surprised that I congratulated Buhari.

“Is it not good for me to congratulate him than to go to his house in the night?

“Many PDP governors go to see him in his house in the night. I have never gone and I will not go. I won’t go.

“We are the only state that the Federal Government refused to pay us our money used to execute federal projects because I don’t go to see him in the night and I won’t go.

“He is not my friend; he is not doing well, but he won in court.

“Should I say that the court did wrong? No.

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“President Buhari, congratulations and carry Nigerians along.

“Unify the country; the country is too divided.

“I am saying what is right. What I will do, I will do; what I will not do, I will not do.”