Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, and former Rivers State governor has bragged that he is too big to be challenged by anyone, making reference to those who he alleged are aligning with Governor Sim Fubara against him.
Wike said contrary to reports that Ijaw people were against him in the ongoing political crisis against Fubara, Ijaw nation is solidly behind him.
Speaking at a civic reception organised in his honour by Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said he chose to make Fubara his successor against the opinion of some Ijaw people in 2023.
His words: “It is not true that Ijaw people are fighting me. A father may have 12 children, one can be an armed robber. These people who are going to television to attack me, where were they when we made an Ijaw governor? Nobody is fighting me. I am too big for anybody to fight. All these people put together cannot fight me.
“I told them if you put your hand in Rivers State matter, fire will burn you. Today, they are crying everywhere. Instead of concentrating on how to win elections in their states, they were busy having meetings in Enugu and Taraba states. Who is losing now?”
He warned politicians outside the state to stay out of the Rivers State politics, noting that “Rivers State is very special to me”. Wike alleged that before the civic reception, some boys were sent to bomb the venue of the event at Rainbow Town.
“They sent some boys to come and bomb this place with dynamite. They were arrested by the police. You are encouraging crime in Rivers State. Nobody has a monopoly on violence. We cannot turn investors away from our state through violence.
”I initiated the ring road project. Today, they are going about bragging that they started it. Go to Abuja, I am repeating what I did in Rivers State,”he added.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the PDP Elders Council in the state, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, described Wike as the “most celebrated Rivers politician at the national stage.’’
Wike was accompanied to the reception by members of the G-5 also known as the integrity group led by former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, former Governor Chikezie Ikpeazu and David Umahi. Others include Adamawa State governor, Umaru Fintiri, and Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, among others.