A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has accused former governor Nyesom Wike of attempting to benefit from the fruits of other people’s labour in the February 25 presidential election.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the faction claims Wike’s desire for a ministerial appointment is merely a stepping stone for his presidential bid in 2026.
Recall that key APC stakeholders, led by Chief Tony Okocha, former Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Government and a stalwart of the party, recently urged Tinubu to seriously consider Nyesom Wike for a ministerial appointment based on his contributions that ensured Tinubu’s resounding victory in the state during the presidential election.
In response, a faction led by Magnus Abe, represented by APC chieftain Chief Kadilo Kabari, strongly condemned the calls for Tinubu to consider Wike for a ministerial appointment during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
Chief Kadilo Kabari explained that Abe had made significant contributions before and during the presidential election, which greatly contributed to Tinubu’s victory in the state compared to Wike’s involvement.
Kabari stated, “Politics is a game of numbers. Wike’s support can be seen as seeking a safe haven after losing in every political equation. He sees the Tinubu presidency as a safe haven and the battle for offices as a war chest for the next election because we know him.”
Kabari clarified that he is not against Wike joining the APC, as many former governors are in the party. However, he stressed that no ex-governor has claimed the party’s structure. Kabari condemned the attempt to distort the truth by attributing all the proceeds of victory to one person who displayed ethnocentric bias in the distribution of offices in Rivers state.
Furthermore, Kabari dismissed the contributions attributed to Wike by Tony Okocha as false, asserting that Wike’s camp is trying to “reap where they didn’t sow.”
He stated, “Okocha and his allies should be ashamed because the situation in Rivers state and the elections can be compared to the biblical analogy of planting and partaking of the first fruit. We had people who cleared the bush, tilled the soil, planted the seeds, and watered them. At the point of growth, everyone finds their place in different political aspirations.”
Kabari cautioned against a campaign of calumny targeting Magnus Abe and other political actors, emphasising that pursuits should be based on honesty, capacity, merit, and fairness.
