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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Immediate past governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has lampooned his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, describing him as an ingrate.
Wike spoke about his strained relationship with Fubara for the first time while speaking to selected journalists in Abuja, on Friday.
Recall that the disagreement between the duo came to the fore few weeks ago. It has divided the state House of Assembly in two, with a faction loyal to Wike while the other faction is loyal to the governor.
It also led to the bombing of the assembly complex while members loyal to the minister attempted to impeach the governor.
The two camps in the state assembly have continued to sit at different locations since the crisis broke out.
Speaking on the crisis rocking the state on Friday, Wike declared, “I don’t like ingrates.”
He accused Fubara of dismantling the political structure that brought him to power within three months.
Wike expressed displeasure over his alleged mistreatments in the hands of the governor.
“Let me tell you, I don’t like ingrates; I can’t stand it.
“What is happening now is what Odili said in his book: ‘Give a man power and money, then you will know the person.’
“If you haven’t given a man power and money, then you don’t know the person.
“I’m not worried because I’m a politician. I know what other states are suffering because of debt, but go and check if I left liabilities. The records are there.
“I left projects for him to commission so he would showcase during his 100 days, then politics came in.
“We are just starting; God gave you something; you are now importing crisis .God gave you this on the platter of gold. Ask him, he didn’t buy form. The Federal Government is not fighting you, no crisis. But you are the one now trying to create a crisis for yourself.
“Only those who are natural ingrates will support what is happening there.
“I use the instrumentality of law to fight not thugs. Time will come,” he declared.
The minister said no amount of ethnic blackmail will change his stand, adding that when the time come, people will see real politicking.
“No amount of ethnic blackmail will change us. We will come, you will see politics in the state, now they are saying ASAWANA. No problem, we will come.
“Any politician or elder I see around him I see you as an ingrate
“When the law speaks, militants, ethnicity will run away. Seeing us together in functions doesn’t mean we have settled, nobody can stop me from going to functions.
“Twenty seven out of 32 members of Rivers State House of Assembly are against you. You have to check yourself. At the right time, I will talk. I decided to keep silent because of my respect for President Tinubu,” Wike added.
