Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declared on Friday that he has no regret or apology for telling some PDP governors that he would “put fire in their states” for attempting to hijack the party’s structure in Rivers State.
Wike made the statement during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today when asked if he had any remorse about his earlier comments that led to elder statesman Edwin Clark calling for his arrest.
I have always tried not to respond to Papa Edwin Clark, but I am human. Edwin Clark is not fair, he does not love Rivers State, he is not from Rivers State, he is from Delta State,” Wike said.
“For crying out loud, is he (Clark) from my state? What is he talking about PDP, is he a member of PDP? Let me see his membership card. Let me see how he contributed to PDP, how much he has given to PDP, fought for PDP, to win in Rivers? I don’t want to talk about an individual that is from Delta,” he added.
Wike explained that his controversial statement was directed at the PDP Governors’ Forum.
He reiterated: “And I repeat without any apology to anybody. For crying out loud, heaven will never fall. In fact, when heaven falls, there will be peace.”
He elaborated further on his relationships with the governors, saying, “I was a governor, the only person I can say I never had a relationship with and knew nothing about his election is the governor of Zamfara. I don’t know him, if I see him now, I don’t even know him. All other governors, I know them, they know me, they have a relationship.”
He criticised the governors for attempting to bypass proper party processes
“You mean that you want to violate the processes, the constitution of our party? You came out on a national television after your meeting, led by the governor of Bauchi State, the Chairman of PDP’s Forum, and he came back to read a communiqué with his colleagues that they are going to make sure that their brother, their friend in Rivers State, will take over the structure, and it doesn’t matter whether it is legal or illegal.”
Wike expressed his frustration at the situation: “That it doesn’t matter whatever process they take, and I am sitting as the Minister of FCT from that state, you look at me and you make such a statement, and I should fold my hands because you say you are a governor? I was never a governor before? And you look at me and say that I should fold my hands and say all will be well?”
The former Rivers State governor maintained his tough stance, showing no signs of backing down from his position.