Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), called Siminalayi Fubara, the governor-elect, an ingrate on Friday due to what he perceived as the governor’s attempt to topple his political system in the State.
This came right after the minister declared he would not run against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, once again pledging his allegiance to the latter.
Speaking on the rivalry between Rivers State politicians, Wike charged Fubara with attempting to force a political crisis on him.Let me say this: I dislike ungrateful people. It’s intolerable to me. In his book, former governor Peter Odili stated, “Give a man power and money, then you will know the person.” This is what is occurring in Rivers right now. You don’t know a man if you haven’t given him money and power.
He might be your father, mother, sister, friend, or even your son. “I want to avoid getting into that,” the clergyman emphasised.
Within three months of his election, he charged Fubara with attempting to demolish the system that gave rise to him.
“You know what hurts? I grin at all these accusations. Whom did he sit with? Be thankful for everything in your life, regardless of the situation. This is the kind of thing that no decent politician would ever support.
“I gave him projects to commission so he could present them to the public during his 100 days, but politics intervened. We have only just begun. God has given you something, and now you are bringing in crises.
“There was no crisis; God bestowed this (power) on a golden platter. Nobody at home is fighting you, and neither is the federal government. It is you who is attempting to generate a crisis for yourself.
What sort of framework is that? Who takes that action? Only those who are ungrateful because it runs in their family can tolerate what is taking place there (in Rivers). Only the inherently ungrateful.
He emphasised that the reason he remained faithful to Tinubu was because the President appointed him as the Federal Capital Territory Minister after he helped Tinubu emerge and, in the face of overwhelming odds, defeat all of his main opponents in Rivers State during the presidential election.
The former governor of Rivers State declared that integrity would never be sacrificed on the altar of politics and that he would not permit anyone to topple the political establishment before 2027.
“There is nothing that would motivate me to run for president in 2027. I have character; people don’t comprehend that Tinubu made me a minister. What can we expect in 2027? I declared as I stood that I would not stand by this injustice. I received threats saying they would do this to me and that to me. Among the various things they attempted was the use of Major Generals.
I therefore remained true to myself. It’s unfair like this. I would not consent to it. And I never did get any money. A few would have approached the President and said, “Sir, here’s what we have for you.” We really do need the money. I did not receive a single naira from Tinubu.I put anyone to the test. We went ahead and supported Mr. President after deciding to do so. We said, “We have considered every candidate from the South, and you are the only one who seems credible—not based on sentiment, not on background in religion.”
Indeed, my kid is a reverend. I refuse to withhold my vote. “I swear, I never knew he would make me FCT Minister. I want to elect a leader who will be relevant and who will lead Nigeria very well.” Some people’s religious beliefs and political affiliations make them unhappy. They spread a variety of misleading information. They lack personality. I’m a decent person. I dare anyone to tell us if they donated money to us. He remarked, “Instead of concentrating on Tinubu’s accomplishments, people are concentrating on propaganda and unrelated reports about Wike.”
