Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has described himself as the second most abused politician in Nigeria after President Bola Tinubu.
The minister made the remark on Saturday at Ochigba, Ahoada east local government area of Rivers state, during a thanksgiving event hosted by Chibudom Nwuche, former deputy speaker of the house of representatives.
Wike recounted his unwavering support for Tinubu during the 2023 elections, insisting that he stood firmly with the president when few dared to do so.
“Remember in 2023, when it was tough, nobody knew what would happen in that election, and so many people were saying that it would be difficult for President Bola Tinubu to win then,” Wike said.
He added that many people were unwilling to openly and boldly cast their votes for Tinubu.
“But we all met and agreed that in politics you must take a stand and take a decision, whether it will be good or bad, but we believed that at the end of the day it would be good, and now it is good,” Wike said.
“We did it when it was difficult to say, ‘on your mandate we stand,’ and to the glory of God, we are standing today, and you are the ones who made the President strong as far as Rivers state is concerned.”
Wike reassured stakeholders in Rivers state that their contributions would not be forgotten and pledged to continue backing the president.
He contrasted the commitment of those who supported Tinubu before the election with the present-day politicians now chanting, “on your mandate we shall stand.”
“I want to say thank you for being there for us all through these years. We know those who are ungrateful. Thank you for standing with us,” he said.
Wike added that many who are now vocal failed to act when it was most needed, during the voting process in 2023.
“Now that we stood and voted for him and Rivers state won, I tell you that all your struggles will not be in vain; we have come to let you know that we are still strong, and Nigerians know us, that when we take a decision, we have taken the decision,” he said.
“We don’t make decisions based on what people have seen; we take decisions because we are convinced and believe in what will happen.
“From January next year, let me inform you that we will start politics; you know me, I believe that ‘agreement is agreement’.
“Anything you know you cannot do, don’t say it, and nobody can use us; whatever you have agreed in the morning, you must also agree to at night.
“So, don’t worry yourself about those who are shouting ‘on your mandate we shall stand’; we shouted when it mattered most, and if we did not shout then for him to have won, would they have been shouting now? I have never hidden my position; Nigerians know, and you can attest to it.
“After President Bola Tinubu, the next most abused politician is me. Why are they abusing me? It is because they know that my stand is ‘agreement is agreement’. When we have agreed on something let us implement it. If we cannot implement it, then don’t let us talk about it.
“For us we have said that we will continue to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is the position you took and that is the position you are going to still take. I came to reassure you that no problem.”