By Bayo Bernard
Governor Nyesom Wike is one of the most powerful Governors in the country in terms of his far-reaching influence in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and his position as one of the Governors of Nigeria’s oil producing states. The Governor, who is not oblivious of these facts, has ensured that he used his position to influence salient national issues, though some people insist that his outbursts are sometimes misplaced and politically motivated.
In spite of this, the Governor has continued to gain traction for his constant criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari, his Government and others he perceive as political enemies, particularly former Governor Chibuike Ameachi.
The former Minister of state for Education under the administration of Goddluck Jonathan has not spared his predecessor in his attacks, a situation that, often overhears the polity. He is blunt. And brash.
Wike’s supporters and indeed his critics are now asking: what does Governor Wike want? While some say the governor is warning up to seek higher political office when his tenure expires in 2023, others who have been closely monitoring his actions since he became the state’s helmsman in 2015, after defeating Dakuku Peterside, a former Director General of NIMASA, said the governor is just naturally a no-nonsense man who does not broach rubbish from any quarters, especially when his state and the Niger Delta is the topic.
Governor Wike’s stubborn stance on these two issues, which many consider to be very close to his heart, according to critics, can be viewed from the manner he takes up those he believe have underdeveloped the oil bearing region, particularly politicians from the area, including the Minister of Transportation, who he accused of not fighting enough for the interests of the region.
Recently, he accused the former governor of mismanaging the resources of the state and hiding under the cover of the Presidency, which he said shields him from prosecution. The governor, again, opened the old wound with his predecessor recently, after accusing the former governor of failing to account for the proceeds from the sale of some state assets. As if that was not enough, Wike also knocked Amaechi and the Federal Government for inaugurating narrow gauge railway from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri at a time the rest of the world was building standard gauge railway.
Wike stated this during the inauguration of 6.1-kilometre Omuihuechi-Omuoko-Omokiri Link Road in the Aluu Ikwerre Local Government Area, last week, insisting that the Minister does not mean well for the State and people of Niger Delta.
According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike said it was appalling that the APC Federal Government had continued to shield Amaechi from prosecution for his inability to account for $308m from the sales of the state-owned power plant and other critical assets when he was the governor.
The statement said “People gave you opportunity. You sold our properties, everything. And people are talking in this state because of the government that says they are fighting corruption and protecting people. You (Amaechi) sold our property for $308m and kept for us $208,000.
“That is the kind of people parading themselves in government, for a government that says they are fighting corruption, shame,” he added.
The Governor said it was wrong for the Buhari administration to say it is fighting corruption when people like Amaechi are walking free despite corruption allegations against them. He urged the people of the State not to be deceived by the antics of the APC on the narrow gauge rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, adding that the project is politically motivated.
Wike’s clincher for Amaechi: “Let me warn the man who thinks he has President , he has soldiers, he has police; you should have learnt your lesson by now, that when God has left you there is nothing you can do again.”
The Governor had earlier, in February, slammed Amaechi’s boss, President Buhari accusing him of destroying the country, noting that the President’s successor would face a herculean task repairing the country from the mess that the APC government has created.
Wike said despite the glaring insecurity, religious and ethnic division in the country, the Buhari administration has been living in denial that Nigeria is now more united and secure than ever.
Former governor Godswill Akpabio and minister of Niger Delta Affairs has also come under Wike’s radar of attack after the former was accused of being the sponsor of the Niger Delta Avenger Force, who two weeks ago, called on the Governors from the region to account for over N50 trillion that has accrued to the six oil producing states since 2019.
The militants accused the Governors of mismanaging funds accruals from international oil companies, IOCs internal generated revenue, IGR and federal allocations which should have been used to develop the area.
But while responding to the militants’ threat to shut down oil production, Governor Wike pointed accusing fingers at Akpabio as the one behind the militants.
The six south-south governors had initially set up a confrontation with the Minister after they expressed their dissatisfaction, through Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state and Chairman of the South south Governors’ Forum, the manner Akpabio is running the NDDC and failure by the President to inaugurate a board for the interventionist Commission. Akpabio had responded insisting that the Governors cannot dictate to him or the President .
But Wike blasted Akpabio saying that the Governors are only trying to clean the mess left by the former Governor and other leaders who mismanaged their resources.
“We will tell him that when he was the governor he was acting like a king. There was money that time. The exchange rate was N150 per dollar. Today, it is N500 for a dollar. Akpabio had money but he had the temerity to ask South-South governors what they are doing with 13 percent derivation, the governor said, adding that, “Akpabio should not talk to Rivers State at all. He has no such authority. He is not qualified to talk to Rivers State. If he wants to talk he should concentrate on Akwa Ibom State or else we teach him a lesson here. Akpabio should know that enough is enough.
“If he should talk here I will teach him a lesson. I am not a sycophant and I am not an inconsistent person. I don’t give a damn. He cannot say he sees me in the villa. If he does it again, he will regret it. I am not one of those governors he can turn around.
“I will show you a video where the President said they should come and learn from me what we are doing here. He (Akpabio) went and asked so-called South-South militants that we should render an account of N55 Trillion naira. Where did he get the N55 Trillion from? Akpabio be careful. Don’t go and pay money to people to type propaganda against governors. You will suffer for it at the end of the day. We know what Akpabio was doing as a governor.
“Now he has the temerity to insult South-South governors. We will meet one day. If he did well, why did he fail his senatorial election? You will finish from Abuja and you will come here,” Wike stated.
His dispute with Amaechi
Both were once allies after serving in the administration of former Governor Peter Odili. What has now set them apart, analysts say, is not unconnected with the struggle for control of the soul of the state, ahead the 2023 presidential election when the two leaders are expected to play a critical role.
Even though Governor Wike has not made his interest known concerning the presidential election coming up in three years time, there are suggestions that he intends to run a joint ticket with Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, who has been widely projected as the PDP trump card for the 2023 presidency. Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives was Governor Wike’s choice as Presidential candidate in the 2015 election, before he lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who later clinched the PDP ticket by consensus.
Wike, many insist has yet to forget that painful loss and from all indications, still trying to re-enact the Tambuwal presidential ticket under which, it is speculated, he intends to run as vice president, according to those monitoring, closely, the recent actions of the rivers governor.
For instance, those in this school of thought cited the donation of a whopping N500 million to Sokoto state after a fire incident that gutted the state’s central market in January.
A statement released by Muhammed Bello, spokesman to GovernorTambuwal, after the donation, said Governor Wike has further strengthened the bond between the two states, adding that the funds will go a long way to support the state’s rebuilding efforts, as well as to assist affected traders.
The statement said “River state government has pledged the sum of half a billion naira to support Sokoto State government in rebuilding the Sokoto central market ravaged by fire on Tuesday morning” adding that “Gov. Wike, who visited Sokoto earlier on Wednesday, barely 24 hours after the disaster, said he was shocked and disturbed when he learnt about it.”
The philanthropic gesture sparked a lot of controversies as many said the Governor’s action did not reflect the mood in the state, while others criticized him for making the donation at the expense of the needs of his people.
For instance, some pensioners who were yet to receive their entitlements said the N500 million could go a long way to pay what the government owes them and bring respite to their suffering members.
Charles Jaja, a youth leader in the state lampooned Governor Wike for what he called his financial recklessness, blaming the people of the state for keeping quiet on the matter when they were supposed to speak out. He said “I am disappointed because I am simply worried about our elder statesmen and the good number of youths who sing the praises of the Governor in the face of this financial irresponsibility.”
On his part, Chairman of the Rivers Civil Society Organizations Enefaa Georgewill, said the donation was a misplaced priority when the governor has yet to fully develop the state, adding that residents of the state are still battling to survive due to the current economic hardship. He said the fund was not appropriated by the state House of Assembly.
He said “There are flooding issues that need urgent attention that have not been looked into, every year buildings, plants and people’s source of livelihood are being destroyed due to the disaster that can be managed if the government simply pays attention.
” What Governor Wike has simply done with that donation to Sokoto is eye service and dirty politics. The Governor should be concerned about removing the log in his own eyes before removing the spec in another person’s eyes.”
Governor Wike had remained defiant despite the criticisms insisting that what he did was to extend a handshake across the Niger, noting that Nigerians must come together and build bridges across the country, to forestall religious and ethnic division.
“For those that can connect the dots, Governor Wike is gradually preparing the grounds for the 2023 presidential elections. That he did that in Sokoto where the governor and his ally, Tambuwal, is rumoured to have presidential ambition should mean a lot to the opposition as well as those in the PDP, where the Rivers governor is coming from. Apart from the fact that no other state is known to have made such a donation, half a billion is not what you just throw away except you are setting your gaze on something very important,” Sam Adeoye, a political analyst told the magazine.
According to him “Governor Wike, in his estimation, is also trying to turn the attention of the North to the timeworn affiliation with the South-south ahead the 2023 and the fact that he intends to be a kingmaker in the mould of the role played by former Governor Amaechi in the election of President Buhari.”
Adeoye also mentioned the role recently played by Governor Wike to broker truce between Governors Samuel Otom of Benue state and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, after the latter said herdsmen are entitled to carry AK 47 rifles to defend themselves against cattle rustlers, as a pointer that the controversial governor is nursing a very important ambition.
Mohammed’s comments came amidst public anger against gun wielding herdsmen killing and raping women is some parts of the south and Benue state, particularly where the government has recently signed a law against open grazing of cattle. Otom had responded firmly to the comment made by his PDP colleague, describing him as one of the sponsors of terrorism and herdsmen attacks in the country.
The confrontation between the two PDP governors further polarized the PDP with some party members already taking sides, before Governor Wike waded into the matter by bringing Otom and Mohammed to Rivers state, where they eventually settled.
Speaking after the duo had buried the hatchet, the Governor said he waded into the rift to stop the ruling APC from cashing on it to further decapitate the PDP as the party is preparing to take power come 2023, despite the obvious fact that the Buhari-led administration has failed to provide leadership in the country.
Wike said “We give God the glory today that those differences have been sorted out. We are members of one political party. Like what the Governor of Bauchi and Governor of Benue said, we don’t want the inefficiency, we don’t want the incapacity of the Federal Government in handling the issue of insecurity in the country to rub on us.
“Everybody knows that the Federal Government has failed in providing security for this country. And of course you will not blame them. They (Ortom and Mohammed) are under pressure from their various states. It is not as if they have any personal issues.”
Governor Wike has gone far in his preparation for the next election, according to insiders who said this formed part of the reasons he has been consulting with various political actors across party lines, of the need to form a realignment of forces ahead of the critical presidential election.
Not a few politicians from the PDP and ruling APC have been invited by the Governor to the state, in the last few months to commission some projects. They include, former governors Sule Lamido of Sokoto state and Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, an APC stalwart and senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly.
On January 11, Okorocha, who was speaking in the state to inaugurate the Rumuche/Rumuakunde/Ohna Awuse Link Road in Emohua Local Government Area, shocked not a few Nigerians after he said likeminded politicians from the APC and PDP are already meeting on the future of the country. The Senator who said his visit to the state was part of the realignment of forces among the political parties ahead the 2023 election, said he’s prepared to work with Wike to achieve a better Nigeria.
Okorocha said “in this dispensation, there are many bad people in APC, many bad people in PDP. I think the good people of APC and good people of PDP must come together for the purpose of making Nigeria great.
‘’I can imagine joining forces with Wike to take this country to greater heights. Governor Wike, this is my hand of friendship. Let us bring all like minds, all great people of Nigeria together rather than complaining , let us come together to make this country greater and greater as it should be.”
It remains to be seen whether Wike’s efforts will pay off at the end of the day.
