Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed pride in having made an Ijaw man the governor of Rivers State.
Speaking on Saturday at an event organised by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress in Port Harcourt, Wike said that God used him to make Siminalayi Fubara the governor of the South-South state.
Dismissing social media claims that the Ijaw people in Rivers are against him. “Let me thank this team for this strategic meeting here today. First of all, when I was approached by Senator Johnson Nsakebor… He was sent by the Rivers Ijaw Congress that they want to honour me. I asked what the essence of such was. Why do you want to waste such money? I need the money. Give it to me. But he said so many people go on television and speak as if they were speaking on behalf of the Ijaw people. I said okay, I will come and let Nigerians know.”
Wike also stressed that the gathering was a message to those in Abuja who believe the Ijaw people are against him. “If anybody tells you one day that the Ijaw people are fighting me, it is not correct. We have some ungrateful people everywhere. A father can have twelve children, and one can be an armed robber. Does that mean that the whole family are armed robbers?”
He added that many Ijaw representatives were strategically positioned in the House of Assembly, further undermining claims of conflict.
Wike stressed that no one has a monopoly on violence but said his commitment to playing by the rule of law remains unwavering.
He said, “The mere fact that we choose to play according to the rule of law… and that is what we will continue to do.”
He addressed political critics, saying, “Who has Fubara made? All the things you see are people who are envious of our growth. They couldn’t do what we are doing today. These are people who we have defeated politically several times. If the opportunity comes again, we will defeat them again.”
He concluded, “I have made an Ijaw man governor of Rivers State. God used us. All of us here had sleepless nights. So who loves Ijaw more? Is it people who come out on television who cannot even make their Ijaw brother governor?”
