Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike,
has dismissed criticisms trailing his political choices, insisting that
politics is driven by interests, power and the will of the people, not
sentiment or emotions.
The minister stated this on Sunday during a ‘thank you’
visit to Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, his political base, where he
addressed a supporters and political leaders.
Wike stressed that his decision to venture into politics was
deliberate and not accidental.
To his distractors, the minister explained that he chose to
be a politician and not a pastor, a trader, a public commentator or journalist,
urging them to allow him to play his politics.
Wike said: “I did not say I wanted to be a journalist. I did
not say I wanted to shape public opinion through writing. I said clearly that I
wanted to be a politician and that is what I am.”
He added that his visit to Obio/Akpor was borne out of
gratitude, noting that acknowledging support is a fundamental principle of
leadership.
“This time, I called on you and you responded positively. I
felt it was important to come back and say thank you.
“When someone does good to you, you acknowledge it.
Gratitude matters,” Wike said.
According to him, there is no sentiment or emotion in
politics, what matters is interest.
He added that “power is not given but taken” saying, “for
the people of Obio/Akpor, we have the power to dictate who becomes a governor
in Rivers”.
“Nobody has become governor in this state without Obio/Akpor
making a pronouncement; nobody has become a senator of Rivers East without
Obio/Akpor making a decision.
“So, if you like, abuse us, after abusing us, come and look
for our votes and we will punish you with the votes.
“Don’t bother about people who say ‘sack him.’ If my
appointor believes that I cannot offer anything again, he has the right; it is
not in your place to tell him what to do.”
He said that President Bola Tinubu knows his worth and as
such, does not need anybody to tell him what to do.
The minister said that Tinubu has done so much for Rivers
people, stressing that the people would return the favour in 2027.
Earlier, Mr Kingsley Chinda, Minority Leader of the House of
Representative, pointed out that Obio/Akpor has over 684,000 votes out of the
3.5 million registered voters in Rivers State.
Chinda, who represents the LGA in the Green Chamber, said
that with such voting strength, nobody would challenge the political power of
the LGA in the state.
“Just go home. Tell us what you want us to do and we will do
it,” he told the minister.
Chairman of the council, Dr Gift Worlu, described Wike as a
“gift” to the LGA, the state and the country, due to his outstanding
performance in public service at the local, state and national levels.
Worlu thanked the minister for the many things he had done
for the people of the LGA, adding that supporting the election of Tinubu in
2023 had led to the harvest upon harvest of benefits to the people.
He assured the minister that the people know where to go in
the 2027 presidential election in the state.
Speaking on the gubernatorial election, the chairman said,
“we do not know where to go yet, but we know where not to go”.
Also, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin
Amaewhule, reassured the minister of the full support of people in the local
government area.
Amaewhule added that members of the State Assembly would
continue to pray for him and support his call for the reelection of Tinubu for
a second term.
“Tell Mr President that what we did for him in 2023 we will
do even better in 2027,” he said.
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