Wike Blames Atiku, Peter Obi, People he Revoked their C of O in Abuja for the Crisis in Rivers State

Paschal Emeka, Abuja | Posted November 2, 2023

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Wednesday blamed the supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart Mr Peter Obi, for the crisis rocking his home state, Rivers.

Wike made the allegation when four PDP governors, led by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, visited him and also blamed those he had revoked their certificate of occupancy (C of O) in Abuja, for foiled impeachment of Governor Simi Fubara.

“Wike did this, Wike did that because I did not support their presidential candidates; all those things I am not perturbed, I will only do what is right,” he said.

Wike boasted that nobody can intimidate him. He added that he was not disturbed “Whether you go and bring thugs, or you say you are Ijaw, if I want to do something I will do it.”

“Impeachment is not a military coup; impeachment is provided under the constitution.”

He also boasted that nobody can take Rivers’ political structure from him, adding, “the rumours of money this and that, all that is rubbish.

“I just left office, how many months ago, and I am the FCT minister; which money?

“I hear they said I gave a limit of what he (Governor Sim Fubara) can do; I want 25 percent, these are ridiculous. I am not a political ingrate but don’t touch the political structure in Rivers State, I will not shut my eyes.

“I have listened to them, and for me, you cannot work and people will begin to bring enemies, those who fought you, nobody does that.

“My conscience is clear, nobody can rubbish me. I am not a person you can go to social media and say all kinds of things and you go free, so be careful I have the capacity to fight back.”

The immediate past Governor of Rivers state reiterated his membership of PDP, “and I have never hidden my decision”, thanked the governors for the visit.

Earlier, Governor Mohammed described Wike as “a jolly good fellow who is here dispensing national service to our country as a minister of the FCT.”

The governor who disclosed that the crisis has been resolved at the instance of the PDP Governors’ Forum, added that the governors “waded into the matter because of our personal and inter-personal relationship that we have with him the FCT minister.

“We know the person of Wike, his contribution to politics and national development; we know his relationship and his achievements in politics. So we are not surprised that this matter is coming to an end.

“The importance of Rivers as an economic enclave, and the kind of good leadership that Mr president is dispensing. We really appreciate the person of Mr. President.”

Other governors on the visit were that of Plateau, Adamawa, and Taraba States.

Recall that PDP governors had earlier met on Tuesday and demanded that actors in the crisis should sheathe their swords.