The political rivalry between the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike took a twist with the latter saying that nobody can toy with the interest of Rivers state.
Wike declared that he has no regret supporting and ensuring the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as President of Nigeria against the permutation of his political party, the PDP, which he said was skewed against the overall interest of Rivers state and its people.l
The FCT Minister made the declaration at a luncheon he organized in honour of the members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Saturday led by the factional speaker, Martins Amaewhule.
Apparently responding to a comment credited to Atiku at the aftermath of the October 5th local government elections in Rivers state, Wike said “most of you do not understand the fight that is going on. You think it is these people here? (Fubara’s group) No.
“Let me tell you what is going on, I have no regret at all and we have no regret at all for supporting President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I have no regret about it.
“All these things you are seeing by Atiku’s group, Peter Obi’s group and some PDP governors that believe that I am a problem to them. And I will continue to be problem to them. In fact, the Atiku’s group believes that my team and I stopped them from becoming president. And we stopped injustice. What we wanted was equity, fairness and justice”, he said.
He argued that the former Vice President had been rejected by Nigerians, having contested the presidential elections and lost “many times”.
“We never contested the local government elections. Did we contest? Did we pick forms? I hear Atiku Abubakar say, ‘Oh, they have rejected me in Rivers State.’ Okay, assuming, though not conceding, that he has lost many times, Nigerians have also rejected him.
“If you say for an election we did not contest, never participated in, that it shows Nigerians have rejected us, fine. You that contested and failed woefully, Nigerians have rejected you, so pack up and go home,” he said.
Recall that Atiku had tweeted on his X handle sarcastically that “With the conclusion of the local government election in Rivers State, the shadows of political intimidation and judicial chicanery have dissipated, paving the way for the noble pursuit of governance to commence in the state.
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“From the bustling heart of Port Harcourt to the tranquil shores of Onne, the populace has spoken in harmonious unison, affirming that nothing is greater than democracy.
“As prophesied, it has now been revealed that the citizens of Rivers are astute and resolute, unwavering in their rejection of any form of political oppression, harassment, or the machinations of self-serving godfathers,” Atiku had said in a statement.
Speaking on the allegation of corruption leveled against some judges by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 2024/2025 legal year and rededication service, Wike condemned the Governor for talking down on the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief OCJ Okocha and Judges.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, also expressed disappointment that Fubara insulted the former chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Sergeant Awuse and Chief Ferdinand Anabraba.
Describing Awuse, Anabraba and Okocha as the “Three Wise Men”, the FCT minister stated that these three men sacrificed to ensure that Fubara was chosen and made governor of Rivers State.