The commentaries I have read and listened to against Wike since Fubara joined APC sha would make anybody who is not politically conscious to think that the FCT Minister’s politics has come to a dead end. No thanks to Governor Fubara’s “I am not just a member of APC, I am the number 1 in Rivers State” statement when he was officially registered into the party and presented with his membership card.
Unfortunately, even my position too no matter how founded and unbiased I try to present It, would still be viewed as that which is coming from a Wike fan or supporter yet nothing can be further from the truth. It is true that Wike’s political dominance like others before him will certainly come to an end one day but certainly not in 2027 as his haters desperately wish. Maybe there would have been that possibility if Fubara had joined the APC earlier when the Rivers crises first started but definitely not now.
As at today, the entire structures President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is putting in place for his possible reelection bid especially in the South South, Particularly in Rivers revolves around Wike. Just recently, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, Wike’s staunch ally was among those appointed to coordinate the Renewed Hope Agenda in Rivers State by President Tinubu. Across the 23 LGAs of Rivers State, Wike’s allies including Hon Samuel Nwanosike popularly called Ishie have been appointed to coordinate their various Local Government Areas as Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
In the National Assembly, Apart from Wike’s ex deputy Governor who is presently representing the people of Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo who has chosen to be neither here nor there, about 90% of the National Asembly Members are with Wike. There are the same National Assembly Members who stood with the President on his decision to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State. You must be out of your mind if you ever think that the President would deny these set of people an opportunity to come back to the National Assembly simply because he wants to please a Career civil servant who accidentally found himself in politics and is Governor.
At the grassroots, who produced the 23 Local Government Chairmen and their deputies? Who has all the Councillors? Who has the entire Assembly Members? These are the basic structures that wins elections and the President knows who owns them. People often argue that without the President’s support, Wike wouldn’t have been able to install all of these people and my response has always been that while they may be correct,it speaks to who between Wike and Fubara the president has confidence on.
Beyond structures, the 2027 elections is one that would come with heartbreaking betrayals and treachery and President Tinubu knows this already hence would rather continue to befriend rather than make enemies out of people whose allegiance to him have been proven and tested. People like Wike.
Wike’s style may not appeal to many which has understandably fetched him alot of haters and opponents but talk about one man who understands Nigeria politics, how to play it and get results,Wike is that man. Hate him or love him, the man will certainly prove himself again in Rivers politics come 2027.
