I fought my way to become governor – Wike boasts

By Miracle Ogunde

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, says he became the governor of Rivers without the help of anybody.

He contrasted his rise politically to that of the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, whom he claimed he made governor of Rivers State.

Wike, however, maintained that while he received political support from certain leaders, he ultimately fought his way to power.

According to Daily Post, the FCT minister made the remarks during a civic reception he held in honor of some Rivers State politicians loyal to him on Friday in Port Harcourt.

The statement follows the resurfacing of old videos circulating on social media, where former First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, appeared to present Wike to former governor Peter Odili and some political leaders in Rivers State as the preferred successor to then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

The videos resurfaced amid a verbal exchange between Wike and Odili, arising from the political crisis in the state that has placed the FCT Minister at loggerheads with his successor, Fubara.

Wike said, “You didn’t give me. To be governor of Rivers State 2014, I fought for the party structure. I took it from Magnus Abe, yes, I did.

“So you can’t say you made me Governor. Nobody, I don’t want to make comments about certain people, I won’t do that.

“You Magnus, all of you, Victor Giadom, I fought you people, took the party structure.

“So, nobody can say I brought Wike, I dashed you. Nobody can say that. But it would be unfair to me, to Almighty God, for me to say nobody supported me.

“No you can’t say that. You need people’s support, but not to say you gave me.”