Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that his rise to the governorship of Rivers State was orchestrated by political leaders in the state.
While acknowledging some level of support, Wike made it known that his journey to power was primarily the result of his personal efforts and political battles.
Speaking during a civic reception in Port Harcourt on Friday, organized in honor of Rivers State politicians loyal to him, Wike contrasted his ascent to that of his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, whom he claimed to have directly influenced into office.
“You didn’t give me. To be governor of Rivers State 2014, I fought for the party structure. I took it from Magnus Abe, yes, I did. So, you can’t say you made me Governor,” Wike stated, adding, “Nobody can say I brought Wike, I dashed you. Nobody can say that. But it would be unfair to me, to Almighty God, for me to say nobody supported me. No, you can’t say that. You need people’s support, but not to say you gave me.”
The comments came amid a resurfaced video on social media, showing former First Lady Patience Jonathan presenting Wike to former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili and other political leaders as the preferred successor to then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
The video reemerged against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Wike and Odili. The former governor has publicly backed Fubara, a move that Wike claims undermines Odili’s role as a neutral father figure in the state’s political crisis.
Wike recounted his struggles to wrest control of the party structure, stating, “You Magnus, all of you, Victor Giadom, I fought you people, took the party structure.”
Wike’s journey to the governorship in 2015 followed a high-stakes political battle.
His candidacy received the backing of then-President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, after a fallout between Amaechi and the Jonathans.
Wike, who had served as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff and later as Minister of State for Education, leveraged this support to secure his position, but insists his own efforts were decisive.
