Rivers State has no real option but to throw its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, according to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking at a Rainbow Coalition luncheon in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike pointed to the federal appointments and development projects he says the state has gained under the current administration as reasons for continued support.
Wike, who previously served as Rivers State governor, challenged residents to compare what the state has received from Tinubu’s government in less than three years with what it got from past administrations. He insisted the president has shown genuine appreciation for the people of Rivers, making it a no-brainer for them to back him again. “From 2023 to now, look at the appointments and opportunities that have come to Rivers State. Compare them and tell yourselves the truth,” Wike said.
The minister brushed aside arguments over ethnicity or sectionalism in politics, arguing that voters should focus on governance and development. He urged supporters to do the hard work of grassroots mobilisation rather than relying on media appearances, stressing that real victories come at polling units. “Television will not give you votes. What gives votes is going to your polling units, your wards and your local governments,” he said.
Wike also predicted the Rainbow Coalition would dominate future elections in the state and invited anyone seeking political relevance to join the group. He warned against any attempts to destabilise Rivers, saying the state would not stand by while outside forces meddle. “Rivers people are peaceful, but nobody should take our peaceful disposition for granted,” he added.
In a conciliatory note, Wike called on aggrieved politicians to return to the fold, saying forgiveness and unity are on offer. He stressed that leadership should be based on competence and a commitment to people’s welfare, not on where someone comes from. The event drew the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and Action Alliance, among others.
