The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations that his emergence as the governor of Rivers State was orchestrated by political leaders in the state.
Speaking during a civic reception held in Port Harcourt on Friday to celebrate loyalists of his political faction, Wike acknowledged the support he received from some leaders. However, he firmly stated that his rise to power was a result of his own efforts and political battles, rather than being handed to him.
“You didn’t give me the position,” Wike asserted. “To become governor of Rivers State in 2014, I fought for the party structure. I took it from Magnus Abe—yes, I did. So you can’t say you made me governor. Nobody can say that. But it would be unfair to Almighty God to claim that nobody supported me. You need people’s support, but not to say you gave me the position.”
Wike contrasted his journey with that of the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, whom he claimed to have personally installed.
The remarks follow the circulation of resurfaced videos on social media, where former First Lady Patience Jonathan was seen introducing Wike to former Governor Peter Odili and other political leaders as the preferred successor to then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi. These videos have reignited tensions amidst a political crisis in Rivers State, marked by a public fallout between Wike and his successor, Fubara.
The discord deepened when Peter Odili openly supported Fubara, a move Wike criticized. He argued that Odili, as a respected elder, should have adopted a neutral, fatherly role in resolving the crisis.
“Nobody can say, ‘I brought Wike,’” Wike reiterated. “I fought people like Magnus Abe and Victor Giadom to take control of the party structure.”
The political rift continues to dominate discussions in Rivers State, with Wike defending his legacy while navigating a new chapter in his political career.
