Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed calls for reconciliation with his estranged political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, declaring that no forgiveness can be granted where none is sought.
Wike, speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, made the remarks in response to a recent appeal by ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
In a statement addressing the ongoing political unrest in Rivers State, Tompolo urged Wike to set aside his grievances for the sake of peace and unity.
“And just like I will not accept rebellion from my son, I will also not cause more problems. Wike is angry, but he has to bring his temper down for the good of all. We will have a dialogue and resolve all lingering issues, and again Fubara will return to his seat,” Tompolo had said.
But Wike’s camp insists Fubara has not taken any step toward reconciliation.
“There is no offence. It is when somebody has offended you personally that you are talking about the person seeking forgiveness or whatever. As Christians, let’s now assume that Fubara has offended the minister, do you forgive someone who has not come to you to seek forgiveness?” Olayinka asked.
Underscoring the need for personal accountability, he continued, “The person who has wronged you must first agree that in his mind he has wronged you. Let’s assume that Fubara has offended the minister, has he come to seek forgiveness? I’m not saying there is an offence and there should be forgiveness but he has not even come for forgiveness.”
Olayinka clarified that Wike has not accused Fubara of personal wrongdoing but rather of abandoning the tenets of governance and sidelining allies.
“The minister has never said that Fubara offended him personally. He only said that Fubara should govern in accordance with the rule of law and that Fubara should not throw away those who risked their lives and resources and that is not too much to ask. He said, ‘Those who worked to make you governor, don’t throw them away like that’. So, that is not about forgiveness. If there is one person Fubara would say he has offended, it should be the President.”
He also questioned the governor’s shift in loyalty.
“He is the one to go for soul-searching because throughout the time he was working with this same Wike, throughout the time Wike was facing the bullet for him, Wike was not a bad person then. So, at what point did Wike become a bad person to him? He should ask himself. When did Wike become somebody that Fubara would be so bold, telling him that he would deal with him? At what point? He should ask himself questions like this.”
Olayinka wrapped up with a proverb:
“You are begging a doctor to provide medicine for someone that is sick, but you are not begging the person that is sick to take the medicine. What happens?”
