The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has mocked his successor, Siminalayi Fubara and his camp for resorting to the Action People’s Congress as an alternative political party, saying he will teach them how to play politics.
This is as Kinsmen of the Governor Fubara apologized to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for the misdeeds of the Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
The stakeholders spoke during a civic reception they organized in honour of the FCT Minister in Amadi-Ama in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Saturday.
Speaking under the aegis of ‘The Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress, the ethnic nationality to the FCT Minister to discountenance the bad misbehaviour of an individual (obviously making a veiled reference to the Governor) and continue to relate with the Ijaw people.
Speaking on behalf of the congress, the Director, Finance and Administration, Niger Delta Development Commission, Boma Iyaye, Iyaye, apologized to Wike and pleaded with him not to judge the Ijaws on Rivers through the actions of one man.
“I want to apologize to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry. It is not in our nature to pay good with evil. Don’t because of this bad behavior and run away from us.
“Continue to be our brother. It is not because we failed the exam we won’t repeat it again. We are not ungrateful people. That is why we are celebrating you”.
The congress paid glowing tributes to Wike, saying they will eternally remain grateful to him for producing from among them a governor and influencing the appointments of many of their sons and daughters at the federal level.
Speaking, Wike also refuted claims that the Ijaws are fighting him,
He stated, “Imagine in Rivers they are contemplating APP. It is not about money. Money does not move. You can have all the money but if there is no capacity there is no capacity.
“All the things you see are people envious of our growth. We have defeated them severally and if opportunity comes again we will defeat them
“We have not started politics, when the time comes we will play politics. Our job is politics. Tell them to keep their party ready. We will teach them what is called politics,” Wike stated.
He called all members of the House of Assembly representing the Ijaw extraction to join him on the stage, saying of the 12 of them 10 were supporting the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule.
He said the 10 were against the alleged abuse of the constitution and non-performance of the governor.
Wike said it was not true that Ijaw people were fighting him but that few ungrateful people among the ethnic nationality were put up with such a disposition.
He said: “It is an interesting occasion. Why did they honour me? Many people go and speak on TV as if they are representing Ijaw. Ten Ijaw lawmakers out of 12 are saying that the governor has done infractions of the Constitution.
“These are people representing Ijaw in the Assembly and they are saying that he is not doing well. If anybody tells you that Ijaw people are fighting me. It is not true. It is just a few ungrateful Ijaw people. If a father has 12 children, one can be an armed robber, does it mean all of them are armed robbers?”
Wike described the crisis period in Rivers as a time for some people to enrich themselves adding that such persons see the state government as a big market.
He said someone from Delta State spoke about Ijaw governor but that he told the person to emulate him and make an Ijaw person a governor in Delta.
The Minister said: “There is a big market and some people are rushing to the market. Soon, they will come back and say there is nothing good in the market. I have friends in Ijaw and they haven’t betrayed me.
“Somebody was talking about Ijaw governor and I told the person you are from Delta to make an Ijaw person governor in Delta. I have made an Ijaw man governor of Rivers State. Who loves Ijaw more. Is it people who appear on TV?
“If they were that strong, since after the old Rivers state has an Ijaw man become governor. Where were they? I am an Ikwerre man but I sat down and said for political conviviality and unity let’s go this way.
“They said why should I bring an Opobo man that Opobo is not the real Ijaw. Now food is ready and Opobo has become the real Ijaw. This is leadership of the stomach”.
Wike said persons, who initially told him that they would not serve him, the master, and still serve, the servant, Fubara, were the ones running to the servant in pursuit of their bellies.
WIke said: “They are not fighting me. I am too big. If you don’t recognize someone bigger than you, know you are sick. I am far bigger and all of them put together they can’t withstand it”.
Wike boasted that Fubara and his camp had not won any matter they had instituted against members of the state House of Assembly, describing them as disorganized.
The FCT Minister alleged that his detractors sent thugs with dynamites to attack the venue of the event, but that the police arrested the suspects.
Wike said the people would hear from him through their leaders the next line of action adding they would continue to support the administration of President Tinubu
“They sent some boys with dynamites to come here but the police arrested them. This one is now known. Let me see how they would hide it. When the Minister of FCT and governors are coming they send boys to dynamite here. Let me see how they release them.
“The fact that we chose to be law-abiding. We will continue to support the administration of President Tinubu. I can come home any time because I stand tall to challenge anybody.
“The Ring road was me. I initiated them thinking that we would work together. They are now bragging they are the ones. I have gone to Abuja to repeat what I did in the state. Go and see the testimony.
“Lastly, all of us are together. At the appropriate time, our leaders will come and I will tell you the next line of action. I know today they will not sleep”.
Minister of Petroleum Resources (oil) Heneiken Lokpobiri said Wike made his appointment possible, disclosing that the discussions that gave him the appointment started at Wike’s home in Port Harcourt and ended at FCT Minister’s Abuja house.
Lokpobiri said: “I am proud to be here. My kinsmen from Rivers have identified the strategic help, leadership and partnership between Wike and the Ijaw people. He made my appointment possible. My case was a more direct role.
“It started in his house in Port Harcourt and concluded in his house in Abuja. It is important to complete this history. We have a brother and a friend. It is better to have a good friend than to have a bad brother. A bad brother is of no use. But a good brother is a blessing.
“Let me, on behalf of the Ijaw people, express our gratitude to you. We will always be grateful to you for what you have done and we are looking forward to you doing more.”
Speaking on behalf of the G5, former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, said Wike is a good man who would never abandon his friends.
He said, “We appreciate God for Wike, and we appreciate Ijaw people for this reception. He is a good man and a good friend and brother. He will not abandon his friend and brother at the time of his needs.
“We appreciate Mr. President for appointing you the minister and we appreciate you for not disappointing Mr. President. We pray for you.”
In his remarks, the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, described the celebration as an honour and a means to build peace in Rivers, describing Wike as a good man.
He said that, as one of the leaders of the PDP, they would not relent in exploring how to reconcile Wike and his estranged political godson.
Fintiri said: “He is a very good man. I thank the Ijaw people for organising this reception in honour of what the leader is doing. It is not easy to recognize someone doing good in this country.
“This celebration is an honour and a way to build on the peace of Rivers. This honour sends a message that what is happening is temporary. It will send a message to Fubara to come and reconcile with his master.
“We will continue to work with Wike and the G5. It is not easy for a man to stand tall and build bridges across this country. Wike has built people and made friends all over. He had worked.
“Most of us are challenged by what we have come to see in Rivers. I picked this challenge from Wike. You have a son that you will continuously celebrate. We will continue as leaders of our party to see that we build a reconciliation between Wike and your governor”.
Present at the event were former governors and members of the G5, including Samuel Ortom (former Benue Governor), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (former Enugu Governor and Okezie Ikpeazu (former Abia State Governor), among others. (Punch)
