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The ongoing political rivalry between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a new turn, with Wike asserting that no one can undermine the interests of Rivers State.
Wike, speaking at a luncheon he organized for members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule in Port Harcourt, expressed no regrets about supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to Wike, his decision was driven by a desire to protect the interests of Rivers State, which he felt were not properly considered by the PDP.
Addressing comments made by Atiku after the recent local government elections in Rivers, Wike said, “Many people do not understand the fight that’s going on. Do you think it’s just the people here? (referring to Fubara’s faction). No.”
He continued, “I have no regrets, and we have no regrets, for supporting President Bola Tinubu. All these things you are seeing from Atiku’s group, Peter Obi’s group, and some PDP governors—they think I am their problem. And I will continue to be a problem for them. They believe my team and I blocked their path to the presidency. We stood for equity, fairness, and justice.”
Wike further claimed that Atiku had been rejected by Nigerians, having lost multiple presidential elections. “We didn’t even contest the local government elections. I hear Atiku Abubakar say, ‘Oh, they rejected me in Rivers State.’ But the reality is that Nigerians have rejected him multiple times. He should pack up and go home,” Wike added.
This follows a tweet by Atiku, where he sarcastically remarked that the conclusion of the local government elections in Rivers State had cleared the way for genuine governance, free from political intimidation.
In response to recent remarks by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing some judges of corruption, Wike criticized Fubara for allegedly insulting respected figures in the state, including former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief OCJ Okocha, and traditional rulers such as King Sergeant Awuse and Chief Ferdinand Anabraba. Wike referred to these individuals as “The Three Wise Men,” noting that they had played key roles in Fubara’s rise to power.
