The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday declared that no political force could dislodge his political camp in Rivers State, boasting that his group had remained steadfast since the 2023 general election despite threats and attacks.
Wike spoke during a thank-you visit to the Port Harcourt Local Government Area secretariat, where he addressed party leaders, traditional rulers, women and youths from the council.
“Nobody in this state can push us out. We have led this war since 2023. We have never reneged. There was no amount of threats that didn’t come, and we stood firm,” he said.
The minister has been touring the 23 local government areas of the state to appreciate residents for their support in the 2023 elections and to canvass continued backing for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 polls.
The former Rivers State governor said his political family had paid the price for its loyalty to the President and the Renewed Hope agenda from the beginning, adding that Rivers remained a stronghold for Tinubu.
“If there is one state that the President knows he can go home and sleep with his two eyes closed, it is Rivers State,” Wike said.
He accused some politicians of attempting to hijack the Renewed Hope agenda after failing to support Tinubu during the election, warning that such efforts would not succeed.
“In 2023, we led the war here. We were the Renewed Hope agenda people. From the beginning, we are the people of the Renewed Hope family,” he said.
Taking a swipe at those he said backed opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Wike added, “Those who were not there then, who went and supported Abubakar and refused to give him even 10 per cent, now want to lead the Renewed Hope agenda. Is it possible? You failed.”
He compared the situation to people who only appeared after a meal had been prepared.
“You didn’t go to buy the pepper. You didn’t go to buy the salt. You didn’t go to buy the oil. Suddenly, food is done. You now jump in and say, ‘I want to be the one that will eat first.’ Is that possible?” he asked.
Wike described Port Harcourt as a cosmopolitan city whose diversity made electoral victories difficult to achieve but highly significant.
He also claimed that Rivers was unique in its ability to rally leaders of the two major political parties to work as a team, a strategy he said helped in producing the President.
“This is the only state where you can see the two major political parties working together. Out of the 36 states and the FCT, mention one state that can assemble the leadership of party A and party B to work as a team. That has produced Mr President today,” he said, urging other states to “learn from us, not hate us.”
The minister further advised political leaders in the state to remain united, stressing that leadership was not a permanent entitlement.
He added that leaders must be open to criticism and willing to change when necessary.
“A bad leader is one that they will advise and he will remain reluctant to change. But a good leader is one that listens to his people,” Wike said.
He concluded by commending the Port Harcourt council leadership for working together and urged them to sustain the cooperation in order to achieve more results.
