Tinubu won’t regret nominating me as minister, Wike says during senate screening

Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers state, says President Bola Tinubu will not regret nominating him for a ministerial position.

Wike spoke during the screening of ministerial nominees at the national assembly on Monday.

Last week, the president sent a list of 28 nominees to the senate for confirmation.

Sixteen nominees on the list were scheduled for screening today.

The former governor said under his leadership, he changed the face of Rivers state, adding that he left office “a hero”.

He added that his feats as governor can be achieved if an individual has passion and is committed to the welfare of the people.

“As governor, it’s on record in this country, everybody would have testified that I changed the landscape of Port Harcourt. It’s on record. In four years, I constructed 12 flyovers,” Wike said.

“I can say as a governor, in my four years in my second tenure, I’ve never left my state and slept outside my state. I make sure I am in my state to take the challenges, solve problems of my people.

“These things can be achieved if you are committed and if you have passion for the job.

“There are so many people who want to be minister, governor for the sake that I was a governor. But there are those who say ‘look, what do I want to offer? Am I committed to this job?

“And I promise Mr. president, for nominating me, I believe knowing how hungry Mr. President is to solve the problems of Nigerians, we have no choice but to give him the required support and I can assure you if I’m confirmed in whatever capacity, Mr. President will not regret nominating me.”

‘HE’S OUR ROLE MODEL’

Commenting during the screening of the former governor, Barry Mpigi, senator representing Rivers south-east, described Wike as “our role model”.

“He is our best from Rivers state. I want to say he is our role model. The three senators from Rivers state and over five million Rivers people back at home are in total conformity with our leaders,” Mpigi said.

“I want all my distinguished colleagues to just ask our leader to take a bow, if possible, and go.”

While responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said: “Distinguish senator Mpigi, while you were speaking, I had goose pimples. You mentioned that over five million people are with this nominee and you confirmed that his resume, content is insufficient to enumerate the achievement of the nominee.

“I don’t think there’s anybody who is opposed to this nominee.”

Akpabio, thereafter, asked Wike to take a bow.