Rivers has most appointees in Tinubu’s govt, Wike fires back at critics

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has fired back at some of his critics in Rivers State who claimed he has not attracted any projects to Rivers State as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Speaking at the Ahoada East and Ahoada West PDP End of Year thanksgiving held in Ochigna town in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, the former Governor of Rivers State declared that the state has the highest number of appointees in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Recall that Celestine Omehia a former Governor of Rivers State and Uche Secondus, former National Chairman of the PDP, both former allies of Wike, had in separate remarks during recent commissioning ceremonies by Governor, Siminalayi Fubara to inaugurate some projects in the state castigated Wike for his inability to attract any federal project to the state.

But Wike took a swipe at the two personalities, Omehia, for saying people should ask him (Wike), what he has done for the state as Minister.

He lampooned former Governor, Omehia and Secondus over their comments, berating Secondus for calling him an enemy of the state, wondering when the former became a friend of Gov. Fubara when he, Secondus wanted to make his cousin and former Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru governor.

The FCT Minister also challenged Gov. Fubara to name any project he initiated since he assumed office saying he, Wike  initiated all the projects being completed by the governor, including the Ring Road.

He described the chief host of the thanksgiving and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudum Nwuche as a worthy and steadfast politician loved by his people.

According to him, “What you (Nwuche) have shown today is what is called steadfastness. It is very difficult for you to see people who are steadfast. It is very difficult.

“What you have shown, that you are men and women of character. You are men and women of integrity and God will continue to bless you.

“Let me thank the chairman of All Progressives Congrats in the state, and his team for coming to rejoice with you, and he has said that we are not playing politics of bitterness we are playing politics of inclusivity, we are playing politics of all of us being together.

“And I also believe when they will be having theirs the chairman of our party and other people will also go and rejoice with them. That is the way it is supposed to be”.

Wike, while referring to a project the governor cancelled said, “I heard somebody came in here the other day and was insulting Chibudum. I was the one who awarded Government Girls Secondary School.

“One of those contractors is Eric Appiah and Marshal Uwom from Abua. I gave them. I paid 50 percent, and told them when the governor came, make sure that this project is completed. That was the essence of bringing a governor, we thought we will all work together.”

“I was the one who made sure, first of all to dualise Ahoada road to Odioku Junction. And then awarded that one to Omoku. By signing agreement with Julius Berger that they should collect 8 billion Naira every month from our Internally Generated Revenue.

“I thought that we are doing the right thing when people like Chibudum and all of us sat down to say okay, bring this young boy, let him continue where we have stopped but he came here abused Chibudum and said oh, the road has been cancelled.

“So you can cancel as much as you want. But these are people who worked day and night to make sure somebody emerged.”

Replying the former PDP National Chairman, Wike said, “I heard Secondus say the other day in Bori, I awarded the Bori Internal Road as Governor.

1. “I paid 50 percent and thinking that we have a governor that we all agreed to continue, Secondus was saying that his enemies, who are the enemies of the Governor, Secondus that refused him to be Governor.”

“He (Seconds) was the one who refused the man (Fubara) to be governor; he wanted his cousin to be governor. He has now become the governor’s friend and we have now become the enemies. To God be the glory, “ the FCT Minister added.

On Omehia, Wike said, “I overheard one imbecile, and let him challenge me, an imbecile Celestine Omehia. I say so that is why when he wanted to occupy government House I kicked him out. We could not have imbecile to be Governor.

“He said they should ask me what have I done for Rivers State. That is why I say he is an imbecile. If he understands that I am not a minister of a ministry,

“I am a minister of Federal Capital Territory. When I was minister of Education, he would have challenged me what did you bring to Rivers State. I was minister of education, I brought faculty of Law to University of Port Harcourt. I gave grants to Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic,

“I gave grant to Ignatius Ajuru University,  I made sure Federal government College Port Harcourt, Federal government Girls College, Abuloma, I renovated there to be what a school is supposed to be. That is what I thought he should be asking me.

Now that I am the Minister of the FCT, I cannot bring road to Rivers State,  I can not take FCT money to Rivers State, but I can help Rivers people. And I have been helping Rivers people. “

Wike said further, “Let it be on record that by the instrumentality of Mr President, there is no Governor in this state that attracted political appointment in this state than myself. Go and count it.

“By the instrumentality of Mr President by his grace, by his love for us, he said, go and give me these names for political appointments. So, Mr Omehia, are you not aware that Rivers people have more political appointments than even when you are serving somebody? Are you not aware?”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Host and former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Prince Chibudum Nwuche thanked President Bola Tinubu for giving Wike a super Minister.

Nwuche stated, “Today is thanksgiving for the PDP in Ahoada East and Ahoada West, products of the tribes of Ekpeye and Engine. We chose today to give gratitude to God. Like the preacher said as it is in the Bible,

“Those that give gratitude can ask for more from God. Those that don’t will have their journeys cut short. We have come to give gratitude to God because our members here because many of them toiled on instructions to bring forth a government in Rivers State.

“They believe that now is their time of rejoicing, but God knows best. The time is ticking and very soon we shall reclaim our state. Your Excellency I want to commend the President for appointing somebody of your capacity as Minister of the FCT.”

He said Wike has shown Nigerians that what he did in Rivers State was not a fluke, saying, “But it’s your nature to transform states and cities. Wike is working. Abuja is being transformed.

“Pronects awarded 20 years ago are now being completed. Abuja is truly a modern city comparable to any in the world.

“Ekpeye has seen over four governments from Ada George to Dr Peter Odili to Rotimi Amaechi. You are the only Governor who has given Ekpeye and Engene a pride of place. The projects are numerous. Do we start from the Ahoada+Omoku Road, the Girls Secondary School, Hospitals in Ahoada, and the Roads in Okogbe?