Wike: A politician like no other, by  Kola Amzat

Except Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who eternally occupies a special place in my heart, following the missing out of the nation’s presidency by the two Yoruba legends and icons, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, I’ve always refrained to write glowingly on Nigerian politicians.

However, in the case of Barr Wike Nyesom, the immediate past governor of Rivers state, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the erstwhile Federal Minister of state for education and the incumbent Minister of Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), it’s been absolutely difficult to resist the temptation of putting something on paper about him; his political adventures and accomplishments.

The highly uncompromising Rivers State political warlord means different thing to different people. To some, he’s controversial and belligerent and therefore should be kept afar, and to quite a number of Nigerians, the former Rivers state Governor is a shrewd student of power, who always want to dominate his environment regardless of any obstacle; an uncommon political benefactor, who go to any length in placing his political disciples and faithful in high political offices, and more instructively, a unique being who abhors cheating in all ramifications.

The opinion of this writer of the incumbent Minister of FCT is however, a politician who holds tenaciously to the belief that every Nigerian regardless of ethnic group, creed, religion, sex, political and ideological beliefs are equal and should be able to aspire to any office in the land, as well as benefit equally from the wealth of the country. 

The erstwhile Federal Minister is also a politician who holds the belief that no one will give you ‘power en-cartel’ and that every politician must struggle with all resources at his/her disposal, to ascend to power and authority.  

More importantly, Nyesom Wike is a long-distance political fighter, who throws everything into a cause that he has strong conviction.  

His personal belief that all Nigerians must be treated with equity and fairness when it concerns aspiration to political power at the highest level in the country, as well as in distributing the wealth of the nation was unequivocally and eloquently demonstrated in a build up to 2023 presidential election. 

While PDP chose to be adamant in their choice of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senator Iyorchia Ayu as their presidential candidate and chairman of the party respectively, to navigate the party through the 2023 general elections, Nyesom Wike opined differently.

The former Rivers governor was of the strong view that, in the spirit of equity and fairness, the two key offices must be shared between the North and the South and he was very resolute and unyielding about it.

Of course, his view and belief gained traction in the political sphere, more so when he had earlier lost the presidential ticket during the party primary in a circumstance generally believed was skewed in favor of the northern candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

In the full glare of Nigerians and in a disturbing circumstance obviously shrouded in secrecy, the incumbent FCT minister was schemed out of the PDP presidential primary by the party leadership hierarchy when it’s clear that he was coasting home to victory.

With the above development, the Rivers state political warlord arose and deployed all resources within his disposal to mobilize all his PDP south governor colleagues who fervently believed in his cause, against the PDP and its leadership hierarchy.

Even though, the ex-governors of Delta state, (who indeed was the beneficiary of Wike’s political misfortune), Edo and Akwa-Ibom states opted out, the remaining five governors who shared his aspirations and were stoutly in his camp till date collaborated with him to inflict collateral political damage on the party.  

Wike and his governor colleagues eventually pitched their tents with APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and mobilized supports of their respective states, as well as their political faithful, all around the country for the illustrious politician, who coasted to an emphatic victory over the candidates of PDP and Labour parties in the most acrimonious, tempestuous and ill-tempered presidential elections this nation ever conducted.

While Minister Wike was busy playing a very strategic political game at the national level, he was also holding very firmly onto his political status both at home and at federal level within the PDP.

The Minister ensured that he’d a ‘significant say’ in the elections of all the candidates who won elections under PDP to Rivers state house of assembly and national assembly, and even, the today’s executive governor of the state.

At home and at the national sphere, ex-Minister of state for education is firmly in charge of PDP. The House of Assembly members, as well National Assembly members see him as their benefactor.

In some cases, they defer to him for political leadership and direction.

Of course, in the Nigerian contemporary political dispensation, politics is not totally devoid of god-fatherism; a political ideology that has become a recurring decimal in the nation political adventure; even though, there are political hypocrites who continually claim ignorance of the political philosophy.  

It’s important to submit at this juncture that very very few Nigerian political office holders both living and dead, had ascended without the impact of godfathers. Indeed, the percentage is infinitesimal!

Presently, incumbent Ag. Chairman and Secretary General of the party are all from Wike camp. In-fact, they are both his political faithful. And, how else could one take charge of a political party other than this?

Meanwhile, in the present Federal Executive Committee, Wike Nyesom is one of the most resourceful, productive, courageous, patriotic and responsive Ministers.

Of course, there is a dawn of new era in FCT, Abuja since Wike got inaugurated as minister. He has hugely changed the face of infrastructures particularly roads, airport runaways, streets lighting, housing and medical. 

He has significantly enhanced the security architecture of the FCT, making the nation administrative capital very hot for criminals-kidnappers, armed robbers, insurgents, marauders and even, Fulani herdsmen.   

The minister has particularly brought orderliness into the process of land allocations and development in the Federal Capital Territory, giving necessary timelines where necessary, thus establishing the enduring legacy that has capacity to significantly reposition the city and make it one of the most developed and organized cities in the world in a very short time.

More importantly, Nyesom Wike is creating a new FCT where every Nigerian is been accorded sense of belonging, rooted in fair and equitable treatment,  regardless of religion, creed, ethnicity, sex and even political affiliation.

Even though, the Rivers state political warrior has his own weaknesses, but, his strengths completely overweigh his weaknesses.

There is no iota of doubt that today’s Nigerian political sphere needs a politician like Wike to recreate and reignite unity, harmony and togetherness that have long disappeared in our dear nation.     

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB) is a Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants, 09077509348.