Auomide Awe
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stirred controversy with a blunt declaration that good governance goes beyond the provision of roads and other infrastructure, saying “my stomach” must also be considered.
Wike made the remark on Friday while addressing leaders and stakeholders of the Evo Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Speaking about the responsibilities of elected local government officials, the former Rivers State governor said governance should not be assessed solely by the physical projects executed by an administration.
He said, “I said it today in Akpor. I told the current Akpor chairman that good governance is not only roads; good governance is also my stomach.”
Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State for eight years, also stressed that political offices were created to serve the people and should not be regarded as the personal property of officeholders.
He said the office of the Obio-Akpor council chairman belonged to the people of Akpor, rather than the individual occupying it.
“I told him that, ‘You are the chairman today and that seat is for Akpor, not for you, but everybody from Akpor cannot be the chairman. That is why you are a chairman,’” he said.
The minister made the remarks while recalling his political relationship with a former chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Solomon Eke.
Wike publicly called out Eke at the gathering, asking, “Where is Solomon Eke? Come here, you are my boy.”
The minister said he had worked to facilitate Eke’s emergence as council chairman but claimed that the former chairman subsequently turned against him politically during his first tenure.
According to Wike, he had earlier warned Eke about his political conduct after receiving reports concerning him.
“I warned him, ‘Be careful! What I’m hearing about him will not lead well politically,’” Wike said.
Despite the alleged political differences, Wike said he would not abandon Eke, suggesting that past disagreements would not completely erase the relationship between them.
The minister’s comments came amid his continued political engagements in Rivers State, where his influence remains a major factor in the state’s political calculations.
Wike, a former governor of the state, has remained active in Rivers politics despite serving as a minister at the federal level.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
