Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he regretted pleading with the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Mr Felix Obuah and other governorship aspirants of the party to step down for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The former governor, who made this disclosure at a thanksgiving service organised by Obuah in Omoku, begged the people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area to forgive him for not supporting their son in his ambition to succeed him as a governor.
He, however, hinted that his team has fulfilled its part of the peace accord initiated by President Bola Tinubu and endorsed by all the parties involved in the state political saga.
Addressing the ONELGA people at the open thanksgiving service, Wike said despite Obuah’s supports to him, he denied him the opportunity he desired.
He thanked the former state PDP chairman for his generous and forgiving heart.
“Leadership is all about firmness, it’s all about courage, it’s all about transparency. When a leader takes a decision that is wrong, nothing stops that leader from coming back to say, I am sorry for that decision I took.
“My relationship with Felix Obuah started 2004, when he became the Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government. That was my second tenure and that was his first tenure. He showed that he is a man whom God has blessed and therefore he always contributes to people in appreciation of God’s favour in his life.
“It may be painful on how Obuah was treated by the then government, but he is one of those people that will not hesitate to obey my decision. That is why I say, today, I will use this opportunity to do something that is uncommon. In 2023, if you look at those which ordinarily I should support for governorship, Go Round (Obuah) should be one of them in forefront.
“That is if we do things based on your contribution, based on your support, Go Round is the first two persons that ought to get my support. So, I want to use this opportunity to apologise to all of you, to ONELGA for taking a decision that hurt you. I am sorry.
“Your judgement may not be right all the time, but I am a human being, I may make mistake, but it’s important for you realise your mistake and apologise to the people. So, I beg you to beg Go Round to forgive me. I hope one day another opportunity may come, but let nobody lose faith.
“If God has blessed you, no amount of gang-up that can make you to lose faith in your God. That strength that God has given us, we will replicate it at the appropriate time. We will know who knows left and who knows right. Obuah as the leader of the party, supported me and I become the governor.”
Speaking on his experience during and after office as governor, Wike explained that he supported his successor, but regretted that he inherited nothing from his predecessor.
“This is not time for politicking but to let you know we are there. We have the capacity. Some people said they bought the deputy governor. No problem. Tell them to eat. We know how water entered melon.
“Some people today are claiming they brought, but what is important is that we all know how it happened. I initiated the Ring road, I contracted Julius Berger before I left office to dualise the trans-Kalabari road. As the governor I approved all the major projects because I believe there is going to be consolidation of government.
“I laid the foundation but nobody laid the foundation for me, I came and saw nothing. No handover note to me. I didn’t have any car even on my swearing-in day. I had to borrow car from Ondo State. The governor then, Mimiko donated their own car to us for my swearing-in.
“But as soon as I left as governor, I provided cars for everybody that was coming as a governor, deputy governor. It doesn’t matter about people abusing me. They said Wike is wicked, is the same man that told Go Round and others to step down. You benefited from the wickedness. Don’t worry, whatever you sow, you will reap.”
On the recent crisis in the state, Wike stressed that, “I will accept whatever Mr. President has said and to the glory of God our own team, we have kept our own part and I have also told Mr President that there is nothing in this world that will make me disobey him.”
