On Wednesday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesome Wike, asserted his resilience during a meeting with Governors from the People Democratic Party (PDP). He cautioned against any interference with the political structure in Rivers State and reassured that he could not be intimidated, All Nigeria Latest News reports.
The Minister’s statement followed a closed-door meeting with members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Chairman and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed. The delegation, including the Governors of Adamawa, Plateau, and Taraba States, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister’s office.
The background to the meeting was a crisis in Rivers State on Monday, triggered by an attempt by the State Assembly to impeach the incumbent Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. In response, the PDP Governors Forum convened an emergency meeting to address the situation.
Addressing the PDP Governors, Wike clarified that he would not succumb to intimidation. He emphasized that impeachment proceedings were constitutional and not tantamount to a military coup. Dismissing rumors of financial misappropriation in Rivers State, he asserted that the political structure in the state was secure and could not be taken away by anyone.
“Nobody can intimidate me. If I want to do something, I will do it. Impeachment is not a military coup; it is provided under the Constitution. I’m not interested in all the rumours, money, this, and that. Rubbish. Absolute rubbish. I just left office, how many months ago? And I’m FCT Minister, so which money?
“But nobody can take away our political structure. No one. You cannot work and people will begin to bring enemies, those who fought you when you were struggling for the person to be in office. Nobody does that. I’m not a political ingrate, but don’t touch the political structure of the state. I will not shut my eyes”, Wike said.
Wike also appreciated the Governor’s Forum for the courtesy visit and appreciated President Bola Tinubu for the privilege to serve as FCT Minister, while reiterating his support for the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Earlier, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum thanked Wike for his willingness to resolve issues, noting that the Forum had “waded into the matter”, saying that showed the importance of Rivers State. He also commended the President for his appointment of Wike as FCT Minister, noting that his antecedents speak volumes of his ability to lead.