Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of being the mastermind of the current charged political atmosphere in Rivers State.
Secondus, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, said the FCT Minister was the brain behind Governor Siminalaye Fubura’s political troubles.
He alleged that the former governor brought misery, grief, and anguish into the state, stressing that the Minister has failed to attract any federal project to Rivers.
According to Secondus, Fubara fell out with his estranged godfather when he (Fubara) decided to prevent the looting of the state.
He explained that the political crisis currently rocking the state was orchestrated by those who demand unfettered access to the state’s finances, a demand he said the governor refused to accept.
Secondus said, “Wike has been Governor for eight years and is now Minister of the FCT.
“As Minister, what has he, Wike, attracted in terms of Federal projects to our dear State since he assumed office?
“Perhaps misery, grief, and anguish. As governor he supervised the exit of investors from the state due to his draconian policies.
“He had on an occasion mentioned that he is capable of causing a crisis and he is not far from the truth, as he is causing an unfathomable crisis in Rivers State.
“Mrs Patience Jonathan and I worked for his emergence as governor, have we ever breathed down his neck? Instead, what we get is disrespect and insults.
“I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prevail on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to stop overheating the Rivers State political atmosphere and allow Fubara to work. Whatever Wike thinks he is, it must be stressed that Rivers people made him.”
Meanwhile, the FCT minister said he has never asked Governor Fubara, his estranged political godson, or anyone else to worship him in the state.
This is just as he assured members of the State House of Assembly loyal to him that nobody can remove them from office.
Wike stated this while speaking at an event to honour former Senator, George Senior in Ogu in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
Recall that Governor Fubara at a recent function in Port Harcourt while commenting on the crisis in the state had said he respects and acknowledges Wike’s pivotal role in his governorship emergence, but that he would not worship any man.
Also, at the burial of the late mother of former Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia in Ubima, Ikwerre local government area of the State, Fubara has said ‘I won’t govern Rivers on bended knees’.
But Wike in his reply wondered where the issue of ‘worship’ which his successor mentioned emanated from.
He said, “I came because I respect people who appreciate what God has done for them and what God has used people to do for them.
“God does not come down. God uses people to help people. I have never told anybody to worship me. Nobody can worship man. All of us believe that we only have one God. And it is only that God we worship; and we will continue to worship that God.
“As politicians, we appreciate people who have helped. Ogu-Bolo people when I came to ask you to support me, you supported me. Did I worship you? But I have to appreciate you. I never said I would worship you. Did I tell you to worship me? So why did the issue of worship come.”
He commended the chiefs and people of Ogu-Bolo for not allowing politics to divide them, saying, “You have not allowed politics to make you dishonour your son. That shows people who have leaders of their community in mind.”
He apologised to the people for what he termed wrong judgment, which he said, shows that man is prone to errors.
“In life when you make a mistake, there is nothing you can do about it. I have made a mistake, I didn’t know it all. I say God forgive me and I say all of you forgive me.
“But we will correct it at the appropriate time. I’m a human being. I’m bound to make mistakes. My judgment can be wrong. So forgive me for making a wrong judgment. That is part of life, so nobody should kill himself,” the FCT minister said.
On Fubara’s recent remarks that some of the lawmakers stayed with him and he paid their children’s fees, Wike jested that he never knew the latter was so rich.
“See the Assembly people in their different constituencies. I never knew you were saying rich. I never knew your father was the Managing Director of Shell.
“You were feeding the Assembly people, paying their children’s school fees. I never knew that. It is unfortunate. “
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party has declared full control over Rivers State, asserting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the party now dominate the state’s political landscape.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Saturday, the party claimed that all legislators who defected to the All Progressives Congress have forfeited their seats, citing constitutional provisions.
Recall that on Tuesday, the state government dismissed a call by the state APC for the pro-Wike House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Gov. Fubara.
Ologunagba emphasised that legal considerations now overwhelmingly favour the PDP, dismissing the APC’s claims as futile attempts to subvert Nigeria’s constitution.
He stated, “It is indeed pathetic for the APC to think that the facts and true import of Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to the effect that the former lawmakers have since lost their seats can be muddled and lost in litigation and lengthy press statements.
“Interestingly, in the failed bid to subvert the Constitution to give the former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly a lifeline, the APC ended up admitting the clarity of the provision of Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in voiding their seats upon their defection.”
