“Governor Wike is a known critic; not because he belongs to an opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but his lifestyle has made it so. He fears not regardless of whose ox is gored. He is uncontrollably and emotionally blunt on fundamental issues that touch his heart. Interestingly, he was crying foul when the money was deducted from the Rivers state share and even threatened legal action against Mr. President”
-July 4, 2020, news/comments
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari , Mr. Femi Adesina has stated the reasons his boss, decided to ignore the antagonistic ,hostile, and probably most times insulting disposition of Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Executive Governor of Rivers State.
According to Adesina, ordinarily, Mr. President would have resolved to dealing decisively with Governor Wike and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for their “anti-Buhari tendency” but decided to let go as the father of the Nation.
It could be recalled that Wike, who always attack the President, recently applauded him when he approved a refund of N78.9bn state for the repair of federal roads. Rivers were among the five states, which include Cross River, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Osun with a total sum of N148bn approved by the Federal Executive Council to the states.
Meanwhile, Adesina had written a veritable piece entitled, ‘Wike Vindicates Buharists’, where he hinted that the recent action of Governor Wike is one to be seen as “completely different direction compared to what he had always said of President Muhammadu Buhari”.
His write-up: “The Wike we knew was either usually crying wolf where there was none, alleging that the Federal Government wanted to kill him, or claiming that he was not answerable to the central government at Abuja in any way, or even pontificating that the President and his political party, the All Progressives Congress, had failed the country in diverse ways.
“If not for the maturity, and the avuncular attitude of President Buhari to all state governors, it would have been easy for one to conclude that he and Wike were enemies. Forsworn ones.
“There was also the then Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who had formed a tag team with Wike in the anti-Buhari tendency. The President could have dealt with them in many ways, either overtly or covertly, but he let them be. He was a father ready to tolerate his many children, irrespective of their differing idiosyncrasies, propensities and predilections.”
Adesina however, narrated how Governor Wike quickly extended invitation for President Buhari to visit the state to see what the money was used: “In January 2018, there had been vicious killings in some parts of the country. States affected were; Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Yobe, Rivers and Zamfara. The President decided to embark on sympathy and solidarity visits to the states. All the Governors were receptive, except Wike, who said the visit was a smokescreen, meant to revive the dying APC in Rivers State.
“When about 20 people were killed on New Year Day 2018, in Omoku area of the state, and the President wanted to visit, Wike demurred. He said there were killings everyday all over the country, and it meant the President must visit every State on a daily basis”
“The circle has turned fully round, and Governor Wike is inviting the President to visit. He says he’s “a President for every State of the Federation and all Nigerians.” Wonderful!
“Some people say it is N78.9 billion that is working, and the Governor is clearly inebriated by that windfall. But I don’t think so. Rivers is by no means a poor state. The amount is handsome, no doubt, but the state is oil rich, and can hold her own when it comes to finances. I rather choose to believe that Governor Wike had been playing a curious kind of politics all along, and now, fairness and justice have touched him in a positive way.”
If not for the maturity, and the avuncular attitude of President Buhari to all state governors, it would have been easy for one to conclude that he and Wike were enemies. Forsworn ones.
“There was also the then Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who had formed a tag team with Wike in the anti-Buhari tendency. The President could have dealt with them in many ways, either overtly or covertly, but he let them be. He was a father ready to tolerate his many children, irrespective of their differing idiosyncrasies, propensities and predilections.”
Governor Wike is a known critic; not because he belongs to an opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but his lifestyle has made it so. He fears not regardless of whose ox is gored. He is uncontrollably and emotionally blunt on fundamental issues that touch his heart. Interestingly, he was crying foul when the money was deducted from the Rivers state share and even threatened legal action against Mr. President. In fact, he said all he needed to say on air. The same man, Wike who antagonized Buhari, now sees him as a new bride that needs to visit the State, to see what he has used the Federal government fund to do. Indeed, Governor Wike is a Maradona, that knows how to turn the hand of a clock to get what he wants. That is the way he plays his politics. Indeed, it is good that the same mouth he used to shout like a hunted and distressed rabbit is also same mouth he used to expressed warm appreciation to President Buhari after the refund and heartily wants him to pay a state visit. That is politics, and no permanent enemy.
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