The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to use his powers to punish those against him, noting that politicians struggle for power because it is not “dashed” as a gift.
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Speaking during his “thank you” tour to Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday, Wike cited United States President Donald Trump’s action in Venezuela to illustrate the importance of power.
“Power is not dashed, you struggle for it. If Donald Trump doesn’t have power he would not go to Venezuela to pick up the President,” Wike said.
“Can a local government area that produced 5,000 votes challenge a local government that produces 40 percent of the votes? We will use our strength to punish people.”
Wike’s threat comes amid renewed hostilities between him and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The Minister also declared that he has a good relationship with Igbo people but is not a member of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organization.
Berating the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, John Mbata, Wike said Mbata believed that by becoming President-General, he would have access to Southeast governors to collect money.
Wike stated that Ikwerre people have declared Mbata persona non grata for referring to the tribe as Igbos.
“I have a good relationship with the Igbos, but I’m not Igbo. I’m not a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. John Mbata was declared persona non grata for saying Ikwerre people are Igbos,” he said.
“Mbata believes that by becoming President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, he’ll have access to the Southeast governors to collect contracts.”
He also dismissed Mbata’s support for Governor Fubara’s second term, noting that the Ohanaeze President-General does not speak for Ikwerre people.
“On Mbata’s support for Fubara for a second term, he doesn’t speak for Ikwerre people. He may speak for Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and we have no problem with that.
“We have related with the Igbos, but I won’t claim what I’m not. I won’t change my identity as an Ikwerre man,” he said.
The minister dismissed criticisms trailing his political choices, insisting that politics is driven by interests, power and the will of the people, not sentiment or emotions.
Wike stressed that his decision to venture into politics was deliberate and not accidental.
“I did not say I wanted to be a journalist. I did not say I wanted to shape public opinion through writing. I said clearly that I wanted to be a politician and that is what I am,” he said.
He added that his visit to Obio/Akpor was borne out of gratitude, noting that acknowledging support is a fundamental principle of leadership.
“When someone does good to you, you acknowledge it. Gratitude matters,” Wike said.
According to him, there is no sentiment or emotion in politics, what matters is interest.
He added that “power is not given but taken,” saying, “for the people of Obio/Akpor, we have the power to dictate who becomes a governor in Rivers.”
“Nobody has become governor in this state without Obio/Akpor making a pronouncement; nobody has become a senator of Rivers East without Obio/Akpor making a decision.
“So, if you like, abuse us, after abusing us, come and look for our votes and we will punish you with the votes.”
Tinubu Has Right To Sack Me — Wike
Reacting to calls for his sack, Wike said President Bola Tinubu, who appointed him, has the right to sack him if he has nothing else to offer.
“Don’t bother about people who say sack me because it doesn’t lie in their mouth, if my appointor believes that I can’t offer anything again he has the right, it’s not that you should tell him,” he said.
“But I’m very proud, Obio/Akpor people are proud, Rivers people are proud and we can tell Nigerians that we have not disappointed them as far as FCT is concerned.
“I said it yesterday in Port Harcourt and I want people to note this clearly. If you are not doing well, nobody will talk about you.”
He said that President Tinubu knows his worth and as such, does not need anybody to tell him what to do.
The minister said that Tinubu has done so much for Rivers people, stressing that the people would return the favour in 2027.
Earlier, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, pointed out that Obio/Akpor has over 684,000 votes out of the 3.5 million registered voters in Rivers State.
Chinda, who represents the LGA in the Green Chamber, said that with such voting strength, nobody would challenge the political power of the LGA in the state.
“Just go home. Tell us what you want us to do and we will do it,” he told the minister.
Chairman of the council, Dr. Gift Worlu, described Wike as a “gift” to the LGA, the state and the country, due to his outstanding performance in public service at the local, state and national levels.
Worlu thanked the minister for the many things he had done for the people of the LGA, adding that supporting the election of Tinubu in 2023 had led to the harvest upon harvest of benefits to the people.
He assured the minister that the people know where to go in the 2027 presidential election in the state.
Speaking on the gubernatorial election, the chairman said, “we do not know where to go yet, but we know where not to go.”
Also, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, reassured the minister of the full support of people in the local government area.
Amaewhule added that members of the State Assembly would continue to pray for him and support his call for the re-election of Tinubu for a second term.
“Tell Mr President that what we did for him in 2023 we will do even better in 2027,” he said.
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