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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has told the people of Rivers State that he made a mistake and he is ready to correct the mistake at the appropriate time.
The former governor of Rivers State spoke while addressing the crowd at a grand civic reception to honour Chief George Thompson Sekibo’s 20 years of public service, in Ogu/Bolo, Rivers State, on Saturday.
Wike and the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have been at loggerheads, which has polarised the House of Assembly into two camps.
The minister backed Fubara to succeed him as the governor of the oil-rich state.
The minister, however, was not specific if his choice of Fubara as his successor was the mistake he made.
“I want to say this clearly, in life we have made a mistake. I have made a mistake. I own it up and I say God forgive me. I have said all of you should orgive me. But we will correct it at the appropriate time,” he said.
Wike acknowledged his fallibility, saying: “I am human, I am bound to make a mistake. So forgive me for making a wrong judgement. So nobody should kill.”
He also said the law and due process would take its course irrespective of whatever happened.
“If they like, they can go to anybody by 2am or 4am to get injunction. The law will take its course. We must follow due process,” the minister declared.
The minister also said he has never demanded that anybody worship him.
“Nobody can worship man. All of us believe that it is only God we will worship. As politicians, we appreciate people who have helped us,” he said.
Wike told the lawmakers and his supporters not to be intimidated, vowing to maintain peace in the state.
“Don’t be afraid. Nobody will remove you as a lawmaker. Most of you don’t understand. This is our work. Our business is to make them fear. That is what I am doing. We will make them to be angry every day, and they will continue to make mistakes,” he said.
The former governor also dismissed allegations of abandoning his supporters, reaffirming his commitment to the people of Ogu and Rivers State.
“Ogu people, I will never abandon you. There are some chiefs I wanted to recognise as traditional rulers. Their people said no. But I dared it, and I did it. Nobody bothered to recognise the traditional rulers from 1999 down to 2014. It was me that came and recognised most of them,” he said.
Reflecting on his political journey, Wike expressed confidence in overcoming challenges, recounting past victories against hostile Federal Governments and lack of support.
The escalating tensions between Wike’s camp and Fubara’s administration have thrown Rivers State into political turmoil.
Fubara had earlier said that while he appreciated the role played by Wike in his ascension to office, that was not enough for him to worship a human being.
The governor insisted that there was nothing wrong with one helping another person, but that does not mean the helper should take the place of God.
“God can do anything He wants to do when He wants to do it. It is only for us to realise that God will not come down from heaven but will pass through one man or woman to achieve His purpose.
“So, for that reason, when we act, we act as humans; human vessels that God has used, and not seeing yourself as God.
“I want to say this clearly that we appreciate the role our leaders, most especially the immediate past governor, played. But that is not enough for me to worship a human being. I can’t do that,” Fubara had said.
