….We’ll teach you a lesson’, Wike mocks Fubara camp for ‘seeking refuge’ in APP
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, has asked Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), not to “put fire” in his state.
In August, Wike warned governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against interfering in the affairs of the party in Rivers state.
Wike and Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, have been at loggerheads over the control of the party’s political structure in the state.
The rift between both chieftains of the PDP has created two factions in the Rivers house of assembly, with each camp electing a speaker loyal to the minister and the governor.
Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state and chair of the PDP Governors’ Forum, had said the party’s structure in Rivers state will be handed over to Fubara.
Displeased by Mohammed’s comment, Wike said he would “put fire” in the states controlled by governors of the PDP siding with Fubara.
Mohammed would later reply to the FCT minister’s threat, saying he had enough water to quench Wike’s fire.
But speaking on Saturday at an event organised in honour of the minister by the Ijaw Peoples Congress in Port Harcourt, Makinde pleaded with Wike to spare Oyo state should he decide to make bold his threat.
“I came to identify with my brother, the celebrant of today, the honourable minister of the federal capital territory and the immediate past governor of Rivers state,” Makinde said.
“When I showed up yesterday, I told him I brought peace offering because he has been boasting that he will put fire in some states. I said, please, don’t put fire in Oyo state.”
‘I’M BIGGER THAN ALL OF YOU’
Addressing the crowd, Wike said he is more powerful than all the governors siding with Fubara.
“All those who are moving around saying they are supporting somebody… you know it is not correct. You know some people don’t have shame. I cannot serve your boy,” Wike said.
“Now, they are not even waiting, they are even rushing after the boy. They are not even waiting for the boy to call them. They are now rushing to the boy. People don’t have integrity.
“Don’t ever think that they’re fighting me. They are not fighting me. I am too big. If you don’t recognise somebody bigger than you, you know you are sick. I’m far bigger— all of them put together. They cannot stand it.
“When people said they will put hand here (in Rivers). I told them: if you come here and put your hand, hand too will enter your place (state). Now they are crying.”
Wike claimed that the PDP lost the governorship election in Edo to the All Progressives Congress (APC) because governors of the party lacked strategy.
“Instead of them (governors) concentrating on how they would win election in their state, they were holding meetings elsewhere to discuss Rivers state,” he said.
“Who is the loser? This is a warning to others. Don’t touch Rivers state. It is a special state to God.”
We’ll teach you a lesson’, Wike mocks Fubara camp for ‘seeking refuge’ in APP
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has mocked supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Peoples Party (APP) ahead of the October 5 local government election.
After Wike’s loyalists took control of the PDP in Rivers following the congress that held last month, Fubara reportedly directed his loyalists to contest the forthcoming election under APP.
Speaking at a reception organized for him by a group, the Ijaw Peoples Assembly, in Port Harcourt, on Saturday, Wike expressed surprise that members of PDP loyal to the governor could defect to APP.
He boasted that when the time comes, he would teach APP and its members a big lesson in the state.
He said: “Imagine in Rivers they are contemplating of APP. It is not about money. Money does not move. You can have all the money but if there is no capacity there is no capacity.
“All the things you see are people envious of our growth. We have defeated them severally and if opportunity comes again, we will defeat them
“We have not started politics, when the time comes, we will play politics. Our job is politics. Tell them to keep their party ready. We will teach them what is called politics.”
Wike said it is not true that Ijaw people were fighting him but that few ungrateful people among the ethnic group is putting up such disposition.
Wike described the crisis period in Rivers as a time for some people to enrich themselves, adding that such persons see the state government as a big market.
But he said: “They are not fighting me. I am too big. If you don’t recognize someone bigger than you, know you are sick. I am far bigger and all of them put together they can’t withstand it”.
Earlier the Director, Finance and Administration, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Boma Iyaye, who spoke on behalf of the group, apologized to Wike and told him to disregard the misbehaviour of an individual and continue to relate with the Ijaw people.
Iyaye appealed to Wike not to judge the Ijaws in Rivers through the behaviour of one person.
The FCT Minister was accompanied to the event by the Petroleum Minister, State, Heineken Lokpobiri; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; former governors and members of the G5, Samuel Ortom, Benue; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu and Okezie Ikpeazu, among others.
