The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has pledged unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu’s second term.
The Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, said Wike made the pledge on Saturday while meeting PDP stakeholders in Ochigba, Rivers.
Wike attended an end-of-year thanksgiving service organised by former Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Chibudom Nwuche, in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers.
Addressing stakeholders, Wike said their struggle would not be in vain, urging them to continue supporting Tinubu despite what he described as intimidation in the state.
He recalled openly backing Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, even when support was difficult in Rivers.
Wike said he would continue supporting the President now that conditions were easier, stressing that early supporters were recognised after Tinubu’s victory.
“I want to thank you for standing with us all through these years. We know those who are ungrateful,” he said.
He said political courage was required in 2023, when many were unsure of Tinubu’s chances and feared openly supporting him.
“In politics, you must take a stand, believing that at the end of the day, it will be good. Now, it is good,” Wike said.
He added that Rivers supporters made Tinubu “stand strong” in the state when it was difficult to declare loyalty.
Wike assured supporters he respected agreements, saying, “When we take a decision, Nigerians know we have taken it.”
He said preparations for the 2027 general elections would begin in January, promising to honour all political agreements.
“Agreement is agreement. Anything you cannot do, don’t say it,” he told supporters.
Wike dismissed critics chanting loyalty slogans, saying his camp acted “when it mattered most”.
He said he remained firm on supporting Tinubu, adding, “We are all in this till the end.”
HAILS RIVERS ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, on Saturday commended members of the Rivers House of Assembly for supporting President Bola Tinubu against all odds.
The Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, said Wike gave the commendation when he visited the lawmakers at the House of Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt.
Wike said that for standing for what was right in the state, the lawmakers had shown trust and capacity to lead and stand by the right principles.
He urged them to continue to stand for what was right, adding that they had shown and stood out in the country as the beacon of democracy.
He faulted the withholding of their entitlements by the Rivers Government before the declaration of the State of Emergency in the state.
He argued that it was unfair for elected lawmakers to be denied their entitlements simply because of disagreement.
The minister, who thanked the Assembly members for a car gift, also commended them for supporting him and working for the good people of Rivers
“If you have not had the opportunity to be in the corridors of power, you will not understand that a man can be influenced negatively by his spouse and a woman can be influenced negatively by her spouse.
“But here in the State House of Assembly, all of them have shown that they are working together for the development of the state.
“I have been in politics actively and I have seen it all.
“This is the first time I have seen legislators telling the world what they stand for and standing firm and that we are a different arm of government and not a department of government,” Wike said.
NAN
