Wike ‘controls’ Fubara for self interest, lays down conditions for Gov
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nyesom Wike has not denied several allegations levelled against him by the camp of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara over their deal for the former Governor to curtail the powers of his successor in exchange for support before and after the vote on March 18.
Wike, now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, allegedly made excessive demands on his protégé by asking to nominate 15 of the 16 Commissioners in Rivers, and that 15 per cent of state’s federal allocation be given to Wike monthly.
Fubara loyalists have also alleged on Arise News this week that Wike supported him to become his successor on condition Fubara should not travel out of Rivers or ride on the state’s executive jet.
Wike had boasted during his tenure that revived the plan with tax payers’ money after it was abandoned by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
These and other conditions laid down by Wike have frustrated Fubara on the job, his people said, which led to him revolting against his political godfather. Fubara is feeling choked and wanna be his own man, they added.
Wike did not deny the allegations at a press conference which footage Arise News showed on Wednesday, only saying they are all part of politics.
Channels Television also reports Wike emphasised the importance of holding his base to maintain his political relevance when he received South South leaders in his office in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said once he loses his base, he loses political relevance; and no amount of calumny levelled against him would make him lose sleep, insisting the right thing must be done.
“All of us want to be politically relevant; all of us want to maintain our political structure,” he reiterated.
“Is it not your political structure? Will you allow anybody to just cut you out immediately? Everybody has a base. If you take my base, am I not politically irrelevant?”
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Secret deal breaks into the open
The relationship between Wike and Fubara went sour following the threat by the state Assembly to impeach the Governor.
The fracas that broke out has led to the impeachment of the state Assembly Speaker and the sack of the Chief Judge, and the burning down of the Assembly complex.
Some have accused Wike of being the brain behind the impeachment plot.
There was drama on Monday morning with the removal of principal officers in the Assembly as gunshots rent the air.
Fubara also alleged a particular police office intentionally fired shots at him when he led a protest march to the Assembly complex.
Wike and Fubara are both members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which made Wike to explain off the conflict as an internal affair which is common in politics and will be settled using the party’s mechanisms.
“In politics, there are a lot of internal wranglings,” he said.
“But to come out and say ‘Oh they want to do this against me, it will not work.’ I had every power then to say where this thing is going. So, when things are wrong, you ask questions.
“It is a party affair. The party knows how they resolve their own mechanism, it is not an ethnic affair.
“Our party is coming to it, that is what I will say. Every politician has his own interest.”