By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has boasted that he remains the man to beat in Rivers politics.
Wike premised his boast on what he called his unbroken record of electoral victories since joining politics in 1999.
The former Rivers State governor, spoke during Rivers State stakeholders’ programme he hosted in celebration of the New Year on Friday.
“I ran for the local government election in 1999, and up until today, I have never lost an election, and nobody I have supported has lost. I have no regret in supporting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Wherever you are, pray for Mr President. We will continue to support him. It will be better this year. Mr President is taking tough decisions but for the interest of the country.”
The FCT minister also said that he deliberately worked against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the party’s former chairman, Uche Secondus.
Wike explained: “When I said Secondus, you will not be chairman again, yes, I did it. In 2023, they said Atiku was coming, I said where? There was nothing I was not offered. I told PDP I would not support Atiku because I am not a second-class citizen. I must support the South to produce a President. Even though I know their offer was wayo (fake).”
Earlier, former Senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe, criticised the politicians supporting Governor Fubara, accusing them of doing so to undermine the FCT minister.
He said, “In the last election, everybody in Rivers State did anti-party. Your Excellency, with all due respect, I did anti-party. I didn’t allow the SDP candidate to come here and campaign. When he came to my house, I told him I was with Tinubu. Oga (Wike), you too did anti-party. You were very clear that you were with Tinubu and did not support the PDP presidential candidate. The present governor also did anti-party; he was with you and didn’t support the PDP presidential candidate.”
