Wike pushes back at critics, says ‘I’m not looking for anything in Rivers’
Wike, Fubara, Tinubu
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has dismissed insinuations that his ongoing feud with his successor as Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara was because of the failure of the latter to meet some of his demands.
Wike spoke while reacting to criticisms that have trailed the peace agreement brokered between him and Fubara by President Tinubu in Port Harcourt during a thanksgiving ceremony in honour of the state’s immediate past Commissioner for Works George Kelly Alabo.
He described the claim that he fell out with Fubara because of the refusal of the latter to meet some of his demands as propaganda and blackmail, saying he is not interested in anything in Rivers State.
There’s nothing I’m looking for in this state now. I have my budget as FCT minister, Wike said, while likening his present position as FCT Minister to that of a governor.
“I have my commissioners. By January, I present my budget before the National Assembly. I will preside over the expenditure. All I’m saying is if you’re a politician, play according to the rules,” Wike added.
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- Fubara: No price too much for me to pay for peace in Rivers
He also blamed Fubara for the escalation of the crisis and the intervention of the President that led to the signing of the agreement, for which many stakeholders in Rivers have rejected because they believed it weighed heavily in his favour and against the governor.
Wike said some of those criticising the agreement crises were not aware of the timelines of Tinubu’s intervention in resolving the crisis.
“I said: ‘Do this, do this, do this, do this’. And you agreed before Mr President and you did not do it? And Mr President said, ‘Okay, let the larger state come’.
“We must allow our people the simple things. I’ve done my part and I’m happy and I’m doing well in Abuja too,” the former Rivers Governor said.
