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.
