The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday aimed a fresh jibe at his detractors over the festering Rivers State crisis, declaring that they were no match for him.
Wike, who stormed Amadi-Ama, Abuloma, Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State for a reception organised in his honour by the Ijaw Peoples Congress (IPC), said all the threats to stop him from controlling the party’s structure in the state had come to naught.
“Let nobody threaten anybody. All those threats are empty. I said nobody would take the structure of the party. …CONTINUE READING
“I said nobody would take over the structure of the party. You can have all the money; if it didn’t dey, it didn’t dey,” he said in apparent response to the clamour by the PDP Governors Forum for the party leadership to hand over the party’s structures to Governor Siminilayi Fubara, Wike’s successor.
The governors had in an August 23, 2024 communiqué, taken sides with Fubara in his struggle for the soul of the PDP in the state with Wike, and asked the PDP leadership to allow Fubara control the party machinery in the state over and above the FCT Minister.
The communique immediately pitted Wike against the governors as he threatened to “put fire” in the state of any of the governors making things difficult for him in Rivers.
The national leadership of the party has since recognised the congresses conducted by the Wike faction of the PDP to the annoyance of Fubara.
Subsequently, the governor directed his supporters to contest the LG election on the platform of the All Peoples Party (APP).
The FCT minister mocked Fubara yesterday for the APP choice, wondering how and when the state degenerated to the level of adopting APP.
Wike was accompanied to yesterday’s reception by his allies in the PDP, notably the G5 members: Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and ex-governors Sam Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.
But it was the presence of Adamawa Governor Adamu Fintiri that sent tongues wagging.
Fintiri is a political godson of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who fell out with Wike over the PDP presidential ticket in the 2023 election.
Fintiri said yesterday that he would continue to associate with Wike.
This came a few days after the governor of Atiku’s home state pledged his support for the acting national chairman of the party, Umar Damagum.
Atiku and his supporters are opposed to Damagum’s continued stay in office, suspecting him of working for Wike.
Reviewing the events in the Rivers State chapter of the PDP yesterday, Wike said: “All those who are moving around saying they are supporting somebody… you know it is not correct. You know some people don’t have shame. I cannot serve your boy.
“Now, they are not even waiting, they are even rushing after the boy. They are not even waiting for the boy to call them. They are now rushing to the boy. People don’t have integrity.
“Don’t ever think that they’re fighting me. They are not fighting me. I am too big. If you don’t recognise somebody bigger than you, you know you are sick. I’m far bigger— all of them put together. They cannot stand it.
“When people said they will put hand here (in Rivers), I told them if you come here and put your hand, hand too will enter your place (state). Now they are crying.”
“Imagine in Rivers they are contemplating APP. It is not about money. Money does not move. You can have all the money but if there is no capacity there is no capacity.
“All the things you see are people envious of our growth. We have defeated them severally, and if opportunity comes again, we will defeat them
“We have not started politics. When the time comes, we will play politics. Our job is politics. Tell them to keep their party ready. We will teach them what is called politics.”
Wike then turned to the state legislators of Ijaw extraction to join him on the dais.
He said out of 12 of them from that part of the state,10 were supporting Speaker Martins Amaewhule and were opposed to what he called abuse of the constitution and non-performance of Governor Fubara.
Wike said it is not true that the Ijaw people were against him.
He said: “Many people go and speak on TV as if they are representing Ijaw. Ten Ijaw lawmakers out of 12 are saying that the governor has done infractions of the Constitution.
“These are people representing Ijaw in the State Assembly and they are saying that he is not doing well. If anybody tells you that Ijaw people are fighting me, it is not true. It is just a few ungrateful Ijaw people.
“If a father has 12 children and one is an armed robber, does it mean all of them are armed robbers?”
Wike said the crisis in Rivers has only provided an opportunity for some people to enrich themselves
“There is a big market and some people are rushing to the market. Soon, they will come back and say there is nothing good in the market. I have friends in Ijaw and they haven’t betrayed me,” he said.
Continuing, Wike said:”Somebody was talking about Ijaw governor, and I told the person you are from Delta, make an Ijaw person governor in Delta.
“I have made an Ijaw man governor of Rivers State. Who loves Ijaw more? Is it people who appear on TV?
“If they were that strong, since after the old Rivers State, has an Ijaw man become governor? Where were they? I am an Ikwerre man, but I sat down and said for political conviviality and unity let’s go this way.
“They said why should I bring an Opobo man; that Opobo is not real Ijaw. Now food is ready and Opobo has become real Ijaw. This is leadership of the stomach.”
Shedding light on how Fubara became governor, he said:”When in 2023 people were hiding their faces, I said we would support equity, fairness and justice. How does anybody think we will hide to do something? Where is the person’s address?”
Wike said persons, who initially told him that they would not serve him the master and then serve the servant, are now all over the place seeking relevance.
He said: “They are not fighting me. I am too big. If you don’t recognise someone bigger than you, know you are sick. I am far bigger, and all of them put together, they can’t withstand it.”
In a reference to the recent Edo State governorship election, Wike wondered why people who were supposedly faced with examination chose to be concerned about Rivers State PDP structures.
He said: “You have exam, and instead of you to concentrate on the exam, you are going to do protest. Now you have failed and you said your teacher failed you.
“When people said they will put hand here (in Rivers). I told them: if you come here and put your hand, hand too will enter your place (state). Now they are crying.
“Instead of them (PDP governors) concentrating on how they would win election in their state, they were holding meetings elsewhere to discuss Rivers State.
“Who is the loser? This is a warning to others. Don’t touch Rivers State. It is a special state to God.”
Wike said his rivals have not won any of the cases instituted against members of the state House of Assembly because they are not organised.
He alleged that his detractors sent some thugs with dynamites to attack the venue of yesterday’s event but were caught by the police.
Wike said his supporters would hear about his next move through their leaders, adding they would continue to support the administration of President Tinubu
He said: “Every matter they have instituted against you, have they won any? They are the ones that go to court; they are the ones that keep losing. When people are not organised, they can’t get a good result.
“We are very organised. When you see our legal team, you know we have a legal team. Don’t be afraid. Having God on our side, we would continue to be victorious. We believe in the unity of this state.
“They sent some boys with dynamites to come and dynamite here but the police arrested them. This one is now known. Let me see how they would hide it. Where the Minister of FCT and governors are coming they sent boys to dynamite here. Let me see how they release them.
“The fact is that we chose to be law-abiding. We will continue to support the administration of President Tinubu. I can come home any time because I stand tall to challenge anybody.
“The Ring road was done by me. I initiated them thinking that we would work together. They are now bragging they are the ones. I have gone to Abuja to repeat what I did in the state. Go and see the testimony.
“At the appropriate time, our leaders will come and I will tell you the next line of action. I know today they will not sleep.”
Governor Makinde, a staunch ally of Wike, said jocularly that when he arrived Port Harcourt for the event, he begged Wike not to put fire in Oyo State following his threat.
“When I showed up yesterday, I told him I brought peace offering because he has been boasting that he will put fire in some states. I said please, don’t put fire in Oyo State,” he said.
Speaking through the Director, Finance, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Boma Iyaye, Rivers Ijaw apologised to Wike for the alleged misdeeds of Fubara, and begged him not to judge the Ijaw with the behaviour of one person.
He said: “I want to apologise to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry. It is not in our nature to pay good with evil. Don’t because of this bad behavior run away from us.
“Continue to be our brother. It is not because we fail exam we won’t repeat it again. We are not an ungrateful people. That is why we are celebrating you”.
In his goodwill message, the Managing Director, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said he was a direct beneficiary of Wike’s benevolence.
“I am a direct beneficiary of your goodwill. We thank you for what you have done for Ijaw people. You are instrumental for me being the MD. While we are transiting, you supported me and brought a brother to work with me.
“The Ijaw have no reason to complain because we now have MD and Director of Finance and Administration. I am standing here to say thank you. You have displayed unalloyed loyalty and support for Mr. President.
“You supported him to ensure he won his election and that his administration succeeds. I am also committing my support to you. We know you love the Ijaw. I saw the series of appointments and majority are sons and daughters of the Ijaw nation.”
Minister of State for Petroleum, Lokpobiri, said Wike made his appointment possible, saying the discussions that got him the appointment started at Wike’s home in Port Harcourt and ended at the former governor’s Abuja house.
He said: “I am proud to be here. My kinsmen from Rivers have identified the strategic help, leadership and partnership between Wike and the Ijaw people. He made my appointment possible. My case was a more direct role.
“It started in his house in Port Harcourt and was concluded in his house in Abuja. It is important to complete this history. We have a brother and a friend.
“It is better to have a good friend than to have a bad brother. A bad brother is of no use. But a good brother is a blessing.
“Let me on behalf of Ijaw people express our gratitude to you. We will always be grateful to you for what you have done, and we are looking forward to you to do more.
“We are not known for betraying people. You are not just a leader of Rivers, apart from President Tinubu, I don’t know any other leader that plays the role you play.
“You are our leader. One of the few national leaders, and we are proud to associate with you.”
Speaking on behalf of the G5, former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, described Wike as a good man who would never abandon his friends.
“We appreciate God for Wike and we appreciate Ijaw people for this reception. He is a good man and a good friend and brother. He will not abandon his friend and brother at the time of his needs.
“We appreciate Mr. President for appointing you the Minister and we appreciate you for not disappointing Mr. President. We pray for you,” he said.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, described the celebration as an honour and a means to build peace in Rivers.
He said as one of the leaders of the PDP, they would continue to look for ways to reconcile Wike and the governor.
Fintiri said: “He is a very good man. I thank the Ijaw people for organising this reception in honour of what the leader is doing. It is not easy to recognise someone doing good in this country.
“This celebration is an honour and a means to build on the peace of Rivers. This honour sends a message that what is happening is temporary. It will send a message to Fubara to come and reconcile with his master.
“We will continue to work with Wike and the G5. It is not easy for a man to stand tall and build bridges across this country. Wike has built people and made friends all over. He has worked.
“Most of us are challenged by what we have come to see in Rivers. I picked this challenge from Wike. You have a son that you will continuously celebrate.
“We will continue as leaders of our party to see that we build a reconciliation between Wike and your governor.”
About two weeks ago, Wike vowed never to “support Fubara in my political life again.”
“People laboured to put up a structure. People laboured; you wouldn’t have even taken the 50th position. I sacrificed to talk to the Ogonis; I sacrificed to talk to several other people who let us go this way,” he said.
