By Sarah NEGEDU
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday used the grand finale of his “Thank You” tour of Rivers state to fire back at critics, declaring that no one should resent him for choosing politics as his life’s path.
Wike, who addressed a massive crowd at the Obio/Akpor local government council arena, said his political convictions were deliberate choices rooted in loyalty and clarity, not betrayal or confusion as alleged by opponents.
He dismissed claims that he had betrayed anyone, insisting that leadership demanded clarity and loyalty rather than emotional reactions or shifting identities.
The minister, while addressing those questioning his alliances and political identity clarified that, “Let me be clear: I have never told anyone that I am a traitor. If I wanted to be a traitor, I know exactly who I would align with and how to position myself. I understand leadership and loyalty. I have also never claimed to be an impostor. If I wanted to be one, I would have taken a different path—perhaps gone to a school of theology and followed that route. But I made a conscious choice.”
He said he had never pretended about who he wanted to be. “I chose politics. I did not say I wanted to be a journalist. I did not say I wanted to shape public opinion through writing. I said clearly that I wanted to be a politician, and that is what I am.”
Wike insisted politics was not driven by feelings but by the interest of one’s people.
“Politics is not sentiment. It is not emotion. Politics is interest. The interest of your people and the interest of your group. I am not here to protect people I do not know or cannot even identify.”
He warned that power belonged to those who could mobilise votes, not those who issued threats or traded insults.
“If I produce 5,000 votes, that is strength. If I mobilize 40 percent of votes, that is influence. We will use our strength where it matters. That is not a threat, it is reality.”
He dismissed politicians who posture as national deciders but failed to deliver reasonable numbers in 2023.
“Those who claim they will ‘deliver the presidency’ but could not even secure 10 percent in 2023 are not delivering leadership, they are delivering failure.”
Wike told supporters not to be distracted by propaganda, saying Rivers politics had survived tougher moments.
“We have been in the political backwoods for years—since 1999. We are still here, still standing. The backwoods are part of every struggle.”
He also urged his base to stay united and patient.
“Support one another. Trust one another. Have confidence. The world has seen what has already been done. I have held power before and confronted every challenge. Now, I say wait.”
Earlier, the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, said Wike’s home local government had demonstrated unmatched loyalty by converging at the venue hours before the event started.
“Your Excellency, you are honored in your home. Obio-Akpor believes in you. Let me tell you, the people you see gathered here, right from 7:00 AM, they have been here under the sun. They have been waiting to hear you.”
He said the LGA’s electoral strength made Wike untouchable in Rivers politics.
“Rivers State has a voting strength of about 3.5 million… and Obio-Akpor has 684,812 votes. This is your home. Nobody can threaten you in Rivers State.”
Chinda recalled Wike’s directive to back President Bola Tinubu in 2023, saying the outcome validated that decision.
“You told us that President Tinubu is somebody who keeps to agreement and promises… and today, we want to say that what you’ve told us, we have witnessed it.”
On his part, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, reaffirmed legislative backing for Wike and the Tinubu administration, declaring that Obio/Akpor had already demonstrated its place as the state’s dominant voting bloc.
“Your Excellency, you have made us proud and you are still making us proud… the real people of Nigeria know your worth. They know that you are helping Mr. President to deliver on the renewed hope agenda.”
He said lawmakers had taken a formal position ahead of the next general elections.
“Your Excellency, when you go back to Abuja, tell Mr. President that what we did in 2023… when the day comes in 2027, we will do even more.”
