The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, has stated that he will not prevent the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, from carrying out its constitutional duties.
Speaking at a civic reception held in his honour at Abalama Town in the Kalabari Kingdom, organised by NEW Associates, Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, accused the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, of instigating the political crisis in the state.
Addressing the large crowd gathered to receive him, Wike dismissed threats from certain individuals, asserting that the event proved the opposition was only making “radio noise.”
“I heard some people say I wouldn’t come here. Who are they, and how many are they? What you’ve done today shows the world that all the noise on the radio is not the reality. If you are from Kalabari and the Ijaw nation and you are receiving me today, God will continue to bless you. I will always stand by you and support you.”
Wike also refuted claims that he described the Ijaw people as a minority in Rivers State, stating that his words had been deliberately misinterpreted.
“Some people have deliberately misinterpreted my interview. However they choose to twist it is their business. I simply said we all worked together, and without unity, it would have been difficult to produce the governor. Chief Alabraba did not allow me to rest during the decision-making process; he nearly fainted when we were choosing the candidate.
“Himself, OCJ Okocha, Sergeant Awuse, and Celestine Omehia were present when we met. On the day of the primary, the current governor initially refused to run, saying my Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, should be the candidate instead. Celestine Omehia insisted that Kamalu should run because he believed the governor couldn’t effectively carry out the responsibilities of the office.”
Wike alleged that the governor’s advisers encouraged him to withhold the salaries and allowances of Assembly members for over a year. He insisted that he would not interfere with the Assembly’s constitutional functions.
“They told you to seize the salaries and allowances of Assembly members for over a year, leaving them without income to feed their families or pay school fees. You were jubilating, and people encouraged you, assuring you that nothing would happen.
“Now, something has happened. I am not going to stop the Assembly from performing its constitutional duties. The Assembly should be allowed to do its job. People who love peace do not threaten others.
“I told you that the House of Assembly members would not lose their seats. I told you that the local government shenanigans would not stand. I don’t need to be a governor to know that what is illegal is illegal. We fight it constitutionally, following due process. What did we do wrong?
“We simply said that the Assembly members, local government chairmen, and National Assembly members worked hard to make you governor—do not abandon them. But they claimed I was asking for money. Has the money come? Those you are sharing money with, how far?
“Yesterday, I was a bad man, a crook, and a criminal. But it was that same ‘bad man’ who made you governor against all odds. If I hated the Ijaw people, I wouldn’t have done that, and nothing would have happened. I believe in the principle of ‘live and let live.’”
Wike criticised those advising the governor, calling them “natural ingrates” and cautioning that money is not everything.
“Anyone who is not an ingrate would not associate with what is happening. I told the governor to enjoy what God had given him in peace and not to engage in unnecessary conflicts. But his advisers told him, ‘You are the governor, you have money.’ I agree, but money is not everything. These people have nothing to offer. Now, look at where we are. How far?”
According to him, those advising Fubara do not have his best interests at heart and are instead working towards his removal.
Wike specifically pointed to Tammy Danagogo, the Secretary to the State Government, as one of the key figures behind the political rift between him and his successor.
He said, “The problem started when Danagogo, the Secretary to the government, used his elder brother, who is a justice, to use an ex-parte order to justify that 27 members of the Rivers Assembly have defected. Unnoticed. He also used the same order to say that the state governor can present the budget to three or four lawmakers.”
Wike accused Danagogo of harboring resentment over not securing the Peoples Democratic Party governorship ticket and using his influence to create a crisis in the state.
He said: “Look at Danagogo, who wanted to be governor. He was so pained that he was not given the ticket; he was the one following the governor, and he (Fubara) did not know. He will lead you (Fubara) to hellfire.”
Wike warned that Fubara’s close circle consists of individuals who previously sought the governorship position and were denied.
“You (Fubara) surrounded yourself with people who wanted to be governor, whom I said ‘no,’ these people don’t mean well for Rivers State. They are the ones surrounding you, giving you advice. Do you think you will succeed?
“They will give bad advice, and look at what bad advice is doing to you. You are already down 2-0, and there’s more to come. They come there and abuse me, and you are happy; you don’t know it is you they want to destroy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, praised Wike for his political acumen and steadfast support for the Ijaw people.
“Wike has worked to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State by following the dispute up to the Supreme Court. We pray that peace will return to the state through this process.
“We will continue to support you at all times and uphold collaboration as a powerful force for advancing the interests of all parts of the state. Your contributions to Kalabari land will remain indelible for generations to come.”