Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT on Friday doubled down on his attack on former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili. Wike also a former governor of Rivers at a luncheon he organised for his political associates and stakeholders at his residence in Port Harcourt also firmly rejected call that he should apologise to Odili over remarks deemed derogatory as demanded by a group which described itself as Concerned Elders of Rivers State.
“They said I should apologise for what?,” Wike said while reiterating his accusation that Odidli has converted the State to his personal estate, describing him as a “Bishop.”
He alleged that Odili switched an appointment meant for his nephew to his daughter: “There is no law that says their daughter should not take up appointment, I agree. But I said as an elder statesman, you should not have given what belongs to your nephew to your daughter. Did I say that there is a law that said that your daughter should not be something?
“But you said somebody is converting Rivers State to his personal estate. It is not correct. The man who is converting Rivers state to personal estate is you (Odili) and to crown it up, you are now the general overseer.
“I didn’t say anything wrong, so you cannot kill me for what I didn’t say,” Wike said while also condemning the claim that Tinubu should be careful with him.
Tinubu is not like you (Odili). If you are a good person, Tinubu called Rivers people, as an elder statesman he wanted you to make peace, but you came home, ordinarily what you would have done is to call Mr. President back and tell him how you have tried to implement some of them and ask him if there is any way you can do the rest, rather you disobeying everything.
“When my father is doing something wrong, should I not say ‘Papa, this is not what you said yesterday?’ Is that to make him cry?”
The FCT Minister added that he has have never lost an election since he got into politics in 1999 also condemned attacks on the jidiciary.
“Everything has time, he is praising the court, the same court that they said all kinds of things on national television against. Now when they get judgement, the judiciary is correct. When they don’t get favourable judgement, the judiciary is cash and carry. I believe everything has limits and I want all of us to believe and have confidence. The wheel of justice is very slow but at the end of the day it will come.”
Wike urged his supporters amid political crisis in the State to, “continue to be patient,” saying, “whether it goes your way or not.”
“We cannot be like them to disparage the judiciary. If the judiciary is down, Nigeria is down. It might not end in your favour; it must not be that it favoured me all the time. There is nothing we can do; we cannot carry arms.
“So just be calm, there is something that will happen in this state that everybody will know. The ongoing movement is not a party movement, it is the movement that you will see. Forget about their claims.”
Wike added: “If you follow my political history, it has never been easy; I have been charged for murder, for armed robbery just because of politics. There is nothing I have not passed through in my life. But I know at the end of the day we will overcome.”
He added that those who are praising his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara today, were same persons who protested against him being Governor, reiterating that he never regrets supporting President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general elections.
“I have no regret for supporting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to win the election, all these making noise, they told Atiku, we will fight him. How can people who came out and said Fubara cannot be governor, that he cannot speak before the public, today are now the ones saying we are with you.
“In 2023, you said Atiku is coming, I said where? They collected his money and kicked the man away. Whatever you cannot do, say you cannot do it. I am sure if Magnus Abe had made a mistake to join them, they would have used him as their spokesperson. Time will come, everybody be yourself, we are all working together.
“How can the governor say he is not seeing any face? One day it will happen, when the time comes, we will know who is who.”
Peoplesmind
