Senator Adams Oshiomhole has commended the achievements of Nyesom Wike, expressing gratitude to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allowing its prominent member to serve in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Wike, a top-ranking PDP chieftain, supported Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election after a dispute with his party.
Following this, he was appointed as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a move Oshiomhole humorously compared to a football club transferring its star player to a rival team.
“Thank you to PDP for giving us Nyesom Wike to help us fix Abuja. I don’t belong to any club, I only belong to Bendel Insurance but I listen to those who say they are Manchester United fans [and the likes]. When you are giving your best player to another club, you pay heavily,” the Senator representing Edo North remarked on Friday during a New Year luncheon hosted by Wike in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Oshiomhole further joked about Wike’s value to the APC, saying, “Thank you for helping us in APC to do. PDP Rivers led you to us without saying we should pay a transfer fee. We may not be happy to return you; we would even create a toll gate to prevent that.”
Highlighting Wike’s contributions as FCT minister, the former Edo State governor praised his efforts to enforce the rule of law and environmental regulations.
“Tonight, we are celebrating a Nigerian who is adding value to the FCT; who is showing there has to be the rule of law and that we must respect certain environmental laws,” Oshiomhole said, noting that Wike’s reforms would inevitably ruffle feathers.
“So, thank you for what you are doing in Nigeria; thank you for what you are doing in Abuja,” Oshiomhole concluded, addressing an audience of dignitaries from Rivers State and beyond.
