By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister, Nyesom Wike bared it all when he declared that if he had hated the Ijaw Nation there’s no way he would have supported Siminalayi Fubara to become governor.
The Minister also vowed at Abalama, Rivers State on Saturday that the rule of law will be applied by the Rivers State House of Assembly in its dealings with him.
Speaking on Saturday at a mammoth reception by the Ijaw on Saturday at Abalama, Rivers State, Wike said that his stance did not mean that he hates the Ijaw.
According to him if he hated the Ijaw, he would not have facilitated the emergence of Fubara as governor in 2023.
“I am not going to stop the Assembly from doing their constitutional duty, let them do their duty,” Wike said.
Noting the irony that those who petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC against Fubara, and fought to stop his emergence as governor becoming the governor’s close associates and advisers, he said:
“People have no conscience at all. People who wrote petition to the EFCC that he should not be governor are the ones now deciding for him.”
Waxing philosophical, Wike asked what could have been his fate and that of his followers had President Bola Tinubu not made him minister of FCT.
“Assuming that the president did not give us this position, what could have happened to us?”
Upon that claim, Wike told his mostly Ijaw audience that the majority of them were not benefiting from the governor.
“Let nobody deceive you that the governor is Ijaw and all of you here are Ijaw but are you benefiting?
Politics is interest. People must not come to use people and dump them. That politics of use and dump must stop.
“You surrounded yourself with people who wanted to be governor, people who I said do not mean well for Rivers. I have never seen this kind of politics where you surround yourself with people who want your seat. Kalabari people,” Wike told his Abalama audience.
The reception was graced by several dignitaries including former Senator George Sekibo and the National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih.
Speaking on the occasion, Orbih who was with Wike at Abalama, said:
“Today we travelled to Ijaw land for a grand reception in honour of Barr. Nyesom Wike.
I am glad I was there to join the good people of Ijaw extraction to celebrate the dependable, result oriented political genius of Nigeria, Barr. Nyesom Wike. The outstanding performing Minister of FCT. I make bold to say, He is South-South PDP precious gift to Nigeria. I thank the ijaws for celebrating him.”