Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has responded sharply to critics from Rivers State who accused him of failing to bring federal projects to the state.
Speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) End-of-Year Thanksgiving in Ochigna, Ahoada East, Wike, who is also the former Governor of Rivers State, pointed out that Rivers holds the record for the highest number of appointees in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
His remarks came after former Governor Celestine Omehia and Uche Secondus, the former National Chairman of the PDP, publicly criticized him.
During recent project inaugurations by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, both Omehia and Secondus had suggested that Wike had done little for Rivers State in his new role as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The FCT Minister expressed disbelief at Secondus’ accusations, questioning when the former PDP leader had become a true ally of Governor Fubara, especially given his past attempts to install his cousin, Tele Ikuru, as governor of Rivers State.
Wike further claimed that he kicked out Secondus as PDP National Chairman when he wanted to make Ikuru to be Governor, while he (Wike) wanted Fubara
Wike fired back at Omehia, who had challenged people to ask Wike about his contributions to the state, and at Secondus, who had labeled him an “enemy of the state.”
Wike also took aim at Governor Fubara, challenging him to name any projects initiated under his administration, emphasising that all of the current developments in the state, including the ongoing Ring Road project, were originally launched by Wike.
Wike also praised Chibudum Nwuche, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chief host of the thanksgiving, calling him a principled and respected politician who is deeply loved by his constituents.
According to him, “What you (Nwuche) have shown today is what is called steadfastness. It is very difficult for you to see people who are steadfast. It is very difficult.
“What you have shown, that you are men and women of character. You are men and women of integrity and God will continue to bless you.
“Let me thank the chairman of All Progressives Congress in the state, and his team for coming to rejoice with you, and he has said that we are not playing politics of bitterness we are playing politics of inclusivity, we are playing politics of all of us being together.
“And I also believe when they will be having theirs the chairman of our party and other people will also go and rejoice with them. That is the way it is supposed to be”.
Wike, while commenting on a project governor Fubara cancelled said, “I heard somebody came in here the other day and was insulting Chibudum. I was the one who awarded Government Girls Secondary School.
“One of those contractors is Eric Appiah and Marshal Uwom from Abua. I gave them. I paid 50 percent, and told them when the governor came, make sure that this project is completed. That was the essence of bringing a governor, we thought we will all work together.
“I was the one who made sure, first of all to dualise Ahoada road to Odioku Junction. And then awarded that one to Omoku. By signing agreement with Julius Berger that they should collect 8 billion Naira every month from our Internally Generated Revenue.
“I thought that we are doing the right thing when people like Chibudum and all of us sat down to say okay, bring this young boy, let him continue where we have stopped but he came here abused Chibudum and said oh, the road has been cancelled.
“So you can cancel as much as you want. But these are people who worked day and night to make sure somebody emerged.
“I heard Secondus say the other day in Bori, I awarded the Bori Internal Road as Governor.
“I paid 50 percent and thinking that we have a governor that we all agreed to continue, Secondus was saying that his enemies, who are the enemies of the Governor, Secondus that refused him to be Governor.
“I kicked out Secondus as PDP National Chairman when he wanted to make his cousin Tele Ikuru to be Governor. Today, he is saying now that we are enemies.
“He (Seconds) was the one who refused the man (Fubara) to be governor; he wanted his cousin to be governor. He has now become the governor’s friend and we have now become the enemies. To God be the glory, “ Wike added.
On Omehia, Wike commented: “I overheard one imbecile, and let him challenge me, an imbecile Celestine Omehia. I say so that is why when he wanted to occupy government House I kicked him out. We could not have imbecile to be Governor.
“He said they should ask me what have I done for Rivers State. That is why I say he is an imbecile. If he understands that I am not a minister of a ministry,
“I am a minister of Federal Capital Territory. When I was minister of Education, he would have challenged me what did you bring to Rivers State. I was minister of education, I brought faculty of Law to University of Port Harcourt. I gave grants to Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic.
“I gave grant to Ignatius Ajuru University, I made sure Federal government College Port Harcourt, Federal government Girls College, Abuloma, I renovated there to be what a school is supposed to be. That is what I thought he should be asking me.
“Now that I am the Minister of the FCT, I cannot bring road to Rivers State, I can not take FCT money to Rivers State, but I can help Rivers people. And I have been helping Rivers people.
“Let it be on record that by the instrumentality of Mr President, there is no Governor in this state that attracted political appointment in this state than myself. Go and count it.
“By the instrumentality of Mr President by his grace, by his love for us, he said, go and give me these names for political appointments.
“So, Mr Omehia, are you not aware that Rivers people have more political appointments than even when you are serving somebody? Are you not aware?”
