Federal Capital Territory FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, has accused the governors of Imo and Kwara states, Senator Hope Uzodinma and Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, of working against him, alleging that both men have failed to reciprocate the political support he claimed to have extended to them in the past.
The former Rivers State governor also recounted how he and his allies ensured that President Bola Tinubu beat Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi in 2023, adding that either of both men would come after him if Tinubu was not re-elected next year.
Wike, who said he would not fold his arms and allow Atiku or Obi win the 2027 presidential poll, also battled his predecessor in Rivers, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, saying he is not fit to be vice president. Amaechi is running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential standard bearer.
He also slammed the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, for allegedly acting like a political party during its recent annual national conference.
Wike spoke during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, yesterday.
Wike said the Kwara State governor had been in the forefront of a campaign against him, adding that he had personally confronted the governor over the matter.
“Take for example, Kwara, he has been the one championing this campaign against me everywhere. Yes, I have confronted him too. I don’t talk about what I cannot defend,” he said.
According to him, the Kwara governor accused him of sponsoring candidates against his preferred choices in the state.
He added that the governor ought to be grateful to him for offering a platform to aggrieved APC bigwigs who ditched the party for his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rather than going to pitch tent with anti-Bola Tinubu coalition.
The minister also referenced a strained relationship with the Imo State governor, recalling that the governor once declined to support him, despite the support he gave him.
Wike insisted that despite these grievances, his focus remains on delivering President Tinubu’s re-election, adding that he would not allow personal disputes with the governors to distract him from that goal.
The minister maintained that he had never concealed his political intentions and challenged those alleging he was working against the interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, governors to state clearly what support they had extended to him in his own political battles.
“Any Nigerian who knows me know I have never hidden my intention,” he said.
Contacted on the issue, yesterday, the Imo State governor declined comments, while APC governors faulted Wike. While Uzodimma chairs the APC governors’ forum, Abdulrazaq is chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF.
