The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, today affirmed the unshakeable position of his political camp in Rivers State. During a thank-you visit to the Port Harcourt Local Government Area secretariat, Wike addressed party leaders, traditional rulers, women, and youths.
He emphasized that no political force could dislodge his group, which has remained steadfast since the 2023 general elections.
Wike highlighted the resilience of his political family amid ongoing challenges. "Nobody in this state can push us out. We have led this war since 2023. We have never reneged. There was no amount of threats that didn’t come, and we stood firm," he stated.
The minister's tour across the 23 local government areas aims to express gratitude for support in the 2023 elections and to rally continued backing for President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027. Wike underscored Rivers State's role as a stronghold for the President. "If there is one state that the President knows he can go home and sleep with his two eyes closed, it is Rivers State," he said.
He criticized politicians who attempted to hijack the Renewed Hope agenda after failing to support Tinubu initially. "In 2023, we led the war here. We were the Renewed Hope agenda people. From the beginning, we are the people of the Renewed Hope family," Wike asserted.
He accused those who backed opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar of now seeking leadership roles they did not earn. "Those who were not there then, who went and supported Abubakar and refused to give him even 10 per cent, now want to lead the Renewed Hope agenda. Is it possible? You failed," he added.
Wike likened the situation to opportunists arriving after the hard work is done. "You didn’t go to buy the pepper. You didn’t go to buy the salt. You didn’t go to buy the oil. Suddenly, food is done. You now jump in and say, ‘I want to be the one that will eat first.’ Is that possible?" he questioned.
Praising Port Harcourt's cosmopolitan nature, Wike noted the difficulty and significance of electoral victories there. He highlighted Rivers State's unique ability to unite leaders from major parties, which contributed to Tinubu's success.
"This is the only state where you can see the two major political parties working together. Out of the 36 states and the FCT, mention one state that can assemble the leadership of party A and party B to work as a team. That has produced Mr President today," he said, urging other states to learn from Rivers.
Wike advised political leaders to stay united and open to criticism. "A bad leader is one that they will advise and he will remain reluctant to change. But a good leader is one that listens to his people," he remarked. He commended the Port Harcourt council for their cooperation and encouraged sustained efforts.
This declaration comes amid heightened political tensions in Rivers State, where Wike's influence continues to shape the landscape.