Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was known to have not only described the All Progressives Congress as cancer but had also launched furious tirades against the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle and former governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade for defecting from the PDP to the APC. The former Rivers State governor had also verbally attacked the deputy governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu for threatening to dump the PDP. Ejiofor Alike reports that the defection of Wike’s 25 loyalists in the Rivers State House of Assembly to the APC as part of the intrigues to sack Governor Siminalayi Fubara shows how low politicians can sink their honour in pursuit of selfish ambitions
In what was obviously part of a larger plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, 25 members of the state House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, last Monday defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).
Before the presidential primary of the PDP in May 2022, Wike was under the illusion that he would clinch the presidential ticket of the party and had maintained a tough anti-defection stance.
Having apparently overrated his capacity, believing that he was the presidential aspirant to beat, he had described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a cancer.
He verbally attacked the then governors of Ebonyi, Zamfara and Cross River states, Dave Umahi, Bello Matawalle and Ben Ayade, respectively, for defecting from the PDP to the APC.
After Umahi defected to the APC, Wike boasted that he and the PDP were the masterminds of the March 2022 Federal High Court case that ordered the removal of the then Ebonyi State governor, and his deputy, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, over their defection, a comment which Umahi described as a sign of “illiteracy.”
Umahi said: “You heard him on Channels TV boasting that he is behind the court case – a mere man that depends on the breath of God; I pity illiteracy. It’s a shame. You are boasting to remove another governor.
“What qualifies you just because you are packing money that is public funds? Not intellectual material but by just packing money from public funds and you are boasting about it. Otherwise, who were you?” Umahi queried.
Before Ayade’s defection, Wike had insinuated that he was behaving like someone who was allegedly involved in advanced fee fraud, better known as 419.
“And so, I have encouraged the PDP, they must file a suit against the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi and the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade for defecting to the All Progressives Congress without any reason provided in the constitution or any other enabling law.
“What PDP is looking for is not just that they want to reclaim the seats, but that a pronouncement must be made by the judiciary on this incessant defection without any reasons at all, in order to enhance and strengthen our democracy,” Wike reportedly said.
The then Rivers State governor had also queried the credibility and integrity of his then Zamfara State counterpart, Matawalle when he defected to the APC in June 2021.
“People must have respect for themselves. There are things I cannot do for the sake of my children. In 2019, Matawalle said I will never leave PDP. I will never disappoint PDP. If I disappoint the PDP, I will never have peace in my life. Today, what has happened? Is everything politics? It is not true. Everything cannot be politics. Your credibility, your integrity are important in life. I will never betray my people,” Wike had reportedly said.
The former Rivers governor had earlier in March 2021 publicly tongue-lashed the Edo State deputy governor, Shaibu for threatening to dump the PDP, insisting that Shaibu lacked the effrontery to threaten to dump the PDP.
He wondered how “a mere deputy governor who begged for the PDP ticket and even lost his local government area during the election in 2020, should have the guts to threaten to dump the PDP.”
Wike did not spare the ruling APC, which he then described as a cancer in stage four, which can kill.
However, since he lost the presidential ticket to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and also failed in his bid to secure the vice-presidential ticket of the party, Wike has been sending signals that suggest that he is a politician who does not honour his words.
He had vowed that he would never lobby to be vice president but since a former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye revealed how the FCT minister called him 19 times within two hours, lobbying to be Atiku’s running mate, Wike has not refuted Dino’s allegation.
Wike also pledged never to work against the PDP but the damage he and his allies did to the PDP was worse than what the rival parties did to the main opposition party.
The former Rivers State governor had also vowed never to lobby to become a minister but he lobbied and got one of the most strategic portfolios.
He had also promised not to control his predecessor but he has since reneged on that promise, threatening Fubara with impeachment on the grounds that it is constitutional and that he owns the political structure in the state, including the governor himself.The FCT minister claims to be standing on President Bola Tinubu’s mandate today but it is a matter of time before he sings a different tune, going by his antecedents.
Though he has refused to officially defect to the APC, last Monday’s defection of his 25 loyalists in Rivers State House of Assembly in what was regarded as part of a larger plot to impeach Fubara, shows how low he can sink his honour to achieve a selfish agenda.
His critics recall that his predecessor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi had once alleged that he could betray his mother for money.
Meanwhile, Fubara is already fighting back as about 10 bulldozers started the demolition of the state House of Assembly complex on Wednesday.
The factional Speaker, Ehie, also led other lawmakers loyal to the governor to hold a sitting early on Wednesday before the demolition began.
Governor Fubara also presented the N800 billion 2024 budget estimates to the Ehie-led group at the Government House.
Within 24 hours of the presentation of the budget, Fubara, on Thursday, signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law.
However, the defiant 25 members loyal to Wike also held a plenary session on Thursday. The obviously angry lawmakers adopted the auditorium of the assembly’s residential quarters as its hallowed chamber.
Many, however, believe the outcome of their sitting is a nullity given the constitutional provisions and the position of the Supreme Court on the defection of lawmakers. (Thisday)
