Anita Ogona
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has mocked supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Peoples Party (APP) ahead of the October 5 local government election.
After Wike’s loyalists took control of the PDP in Rivers following the congress that held last month, Fubara reportedly directed his loyalists to contest the forthcoming election under APP.
Speaking at a reception organized for him by a group, the Ijaw Peoples Assembly, in Port Harcourt, on Saturday, Wike expressed surprise that members of PDP loyal to the governor could defect to APP.
He boasted that when the time comes, he would teach APP and its members a big lesson in the state.
He said: “Imagine in Rivers they are contemplating of APP. It is not about money. Money does not move. You can have all the money but if there is no capacity there is no capacity.
“All the things you see are people envious of our growth. We have defeated them severally and if opportunity comes again, we will defeat them
“We have not started politics, when the time comes, we will play politics. Our job is politics. Tell them to keep their party ready. We will teach them what is called politics.”
Wike said it is not true that Ijaw people were fighting him but that few ungrateful people among the ethnic group is putting up such disposition.
Wike described the crisis period in Rivers as a time for some people to enrich themselves, adding that such persons see the state government as a big market.
But he said: “They are not fighting me. I am too big. If you don’t recognize someone bigger than you, know you are sick. I am far bigger and all of them put together they can’t withstand it”.
Earlier the Director, Finance and Administration, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Boma Iyaye, who spoke on behalf of the group, apologized to Wike and told him to disregard the misbehaviour of an individual and continue to relate with the Ijaw people.
Iyaye appealed to Wike not to judge the Ijaws in Rivers through the behaviour of one person.The FCT Minister was accompanied to the event by the Petroleum Minister, State, Heineken Lokpobiri; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; former governors and members of the G5, Samuel Ortom, Benue; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu and Okezie Ikpeazu, among others.
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