Wike: Fubara never knelt to beg me

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, has never knelt to beg him. 

Rivers has been embroiled in crisis due to the conflict between Fubara and his predecessor over control of the political structure of the state.

On Monday, hoodlums razed sections of three LGA secretariats — Emohua, Eleme, and Ikwerre — to prevent newly elected council officials from resuming duties.

Later on the same day, Fubara asked Wike to let go of his quest to control the state, adding that he had on numerous occasions knelt  for peace to return to the state.

“There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign. I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go. I have done everything,” the governor had said.

Speaking on ‘Politics Today’ on Channels TV on Tuesday, Wike denied playing godfather to Fubara, dismissing reports that Fubara had gone down on his knees to beg him.

The minister also accused the governor of impunity and refusal to obey court judgments.

“What is the meaning of godfatherism? Have I not left Fubara alone? What did he kneel down to me for? Never!! He did not kneel down for me. What offence did he commit?” Wike asked.

“The point I’m making is that Mr. President cannot as the father of the nation say this should be done and we said ‘okay, Mr. President, we are going to comply’.

“Then you started playing tricks. Sir, this is not the way things are. If that is the case, okay, we are out of here.

“Has Fubara ever told you that I said ‘come and be giving me money’? Has he come and told you that I said he should do this and this, and he refused to do, and I’m not happy?

“The point is that he had a problem. He plotted a coup to remove the speaker of the state house of assembly and it boomeranged.

“I have never made any demands from him. By the grace of God today, I’m the Minister of FCT — I have my own budget that I control. So what is that?”

‘HE’S DERAILING DEMOCRACY’

The FCT minister expressed dismay over the recent local government election in Rivers, saying the country’s democracy is being undermined.

Wike denied scuttling democracy in Rivers, repeatedly pointing the finger at Fubara for not “following the rule of law”.

He added that Fubara’s refusal to obey a court order on the LG election violated the country’s democratic values and principles.

“I feel so bad today. In Nigeria, you hear a lot of people who say that nobody should derail democracy. Let us ask ourselves, who is derailing democracy? Who intends to derail democracy?” he asked.

“Is it the man who said the judgment of court should not be respected that is promoting democracy?

“I have heard the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. I have heard the former President Goodluck Jonathan talking about the derailment of democracy.

“Atiku said ‘I praised Fubara for standing up tall’. Is standing up tall to say court judgment should not be respected? That is the Nigeria we think will grow tomorrow.

“I was a governor, I have always obeyed the rule of law. You heard the governor say that our state is turning to a state of anarchy where people do not obey the rule of law.

“You must obey the judgment of court. You must not take the law into your hands. The moment you don’t obey court judgment, you are inviting anarchy, you are inviting violence.”