The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said he has “no regrets openly supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, since 2022.”
Wike stressed that his position has remained consistent
before, during and after the 2023 presidential election.
The minister spoke at a special event organised to mark his
58th birthday anniversary and was contained in a statement by his spokesman,
Lere Olayinka, on Saturday.
Wike said his “political decisions are guided by the
principles of character and integrity,” adding that he never concealed his
“support for Tinubu from the outset.”
He recalled that during the build-up to the 2023
presidential election, he was the only leading figure from the main opposition
party, who openly declared support for President Tinubu, a decision he said was
based on equity, fairness and justice, as well as his conviction that power
should shift to the South.
The minister further argued that his leadership capacity was
demonstrated in Rivers State during the elections, where the All Progressives
Congress (APC) won the presidential poll while the PDP secured victories in the
National Assembly, governorship, State House of Assembly and local government
elections under his watch.
At the birthday event held in the wee hours of today, in
Wike’s residence in Abuja, leaders from different political divides gathered to
celebrate the achievements and political impact of the former Rivers State
Governor and current FCT Minister.
In attendance were National Assembly lawmakers from Rivers
State, serving and former members, members of the Rivers State House of
Assembly led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, chairmen of local government
areas, as well as close friends and political associates.
Speakers took turns to extol the virtues of the Minister,
describing him as an achiever and astute politician whose impacts are visible
across the country, urging him not to relent and assuring him of their
continued support.
Rivers State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and
former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor,
described the FCT Minister as the “naked
wire” of Rivers politics.
Akawor, who is the ex-Director-General of Nyesom Wike’s 2015
governorship campaign, said Wike’s feat had shown that President Bola Tinubu
picked the right product from the PDP to work with.
Also, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins
Amaewhule, who led 27 members of the House of Assembly to Wike’s residence,
thanked the Minister for being a leader with a strong shoulder for everyone to
lean on.
He promised the continued loyalty and support of the
Assembly members to him, saying; “Wherever our leader (Wike) goes, we will
follow him, whoever he is supporting, we will also support.”
Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government and River
State Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Allwell Ihunda,
who spoke on behalf of Local Government Chairmen, extolled Wike’s virtues,
describing as a consistent and compassionate leader.
Others who spoke were Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker
Committee, Mohammed Abdulrahman, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, PDP National Vice
Chairman (South South), Chief Dan Orbih,
his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Hon Victor Giadom,
former Governor of Abia State, Dr Okieze Ikpiazu, Senator (Prof) Sandy Onor, Senator Magnus Abe, Senator George Sekibo, Senator Bari Mpigi,
and others.
In his response, the minister thanked his political family
and associates for standing solidly behind him, acknowledging the role they
have played in shaping his leadership journey.
He said he remained fulfilled working with his people and
pledged to continue collaborating closely with them in the interest of the
people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
Wike, who described criticism and abuses as one of the
things that keep him going, added that
he has never been bothered by those who abuse and criticise him.
The event ended with special prayers for the minister and
his family.
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