The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, for allegedly disrespecting President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Channels Television’s flagship programme Politics Today on Tuesday, also said going by the outcome of last Saturday’s by-elections in 12 states, Nigerians have rejected the African Democratic Congress coalition, being championed by Lawal and others.
“There’s no coalition. Nigerians have already rejected them; the by-election is enough evidence. They did not make any impact. But that is just the beginning,” he said.
Wike claimed that Babachir’s grievances with President Tinubu stemmed from the decision to choose Vice President Kashim Shettima as running mate instead of him.
Wike, who labelled former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as corrupt, also rejected the African Democratic Congress, stating that Nigerians have turned down the coalition.
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Recently, Babachir had accused President Tinubu of being arrogant.
Responding, the former Rivers State Governor said he once believed Babachir could be taken seriously, but recent events had proven otherwise.
He stated, “He’s not someone that should be taken seriously. A man who came out on national television, not to genuinely criticise what Mr. President has done wrong, but to accuse Mr. President simply because he has had a relationship with him, simply because he has had an opportunity to meet with Mr. President before that has given him the latitude to come out on national television to say the President of a country is full of himself.
“He doesn’t call him President Bola. But, Bola. You know, if you had a problem with Mr. President before he became President, there’s nothing wrong with finding a way for something to happen, for a difference to happen.
“When Mr. President chose his vice-presidential candidate, I was one of those whom Babachir visited. He came to my house in Port Harcourt, in particular. He came with one of the former Speakers of the House of Representatives. His anger was that he thought Mr. President would have chosen him as a vice-presidential candidate. Having not done that, all hell must let loose.”
Wike berated Babachir and the ADC, stressing that President Tinubu is accessible and that the APC-led government had recorded notable progress in tackling insecurity, stabilizing the economy, among other areas.
He stated, “This President has just come for two years. Can you sincerely say that within two years, you will solve all the inherent problems of 30 years? I was one of those who took the bailout, appeared government. Things were very bad, even though we paid back at the end of the day.
“Today, no state is going to the Federal Government for bailouts. Today, no local government is going to the state for bailouts. Which means a problem has been solved.
“For some time, I have not heard anybody look at the steps the government has been taking. For the first time, look at the United States, the United Kingdom commended the Nigerian government. Terrorists that they had been looking for years, this government, through their security agents’ efforts, arrested them.
“We commend them. What does that mean? Yes, we suffered as a result of the activities of these terrorists. But from what it looks like now, we have really penetrated, and this insecurity is coming down. We must commend the government that they have put up efforts.
“Today, the price of fuel is coming down a bit. The President of the World Trade Organisation also confirmed that the economy is being stabilised.”
Dismissing former Rivers State governor and ADC presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi, who claimed he would end corruption in Nigeria if granted the party’s 2027 presidential ticket, Wike outlined several alleged corrupt practices involving the former Minister of Transportation.
He stated, “A man comes to tell you that he will solve corruption in one month; is the man taking this corruption issue very seriously? Is it possible? How is it possible?
“Let us even start from this. This man was the governor of Rivers State, right? What can be more corrupt than when you don’t want an arm of government to exist? For example, can there be good governance without obeying the rule of law? The man who says he will stop corruption was the man who refused to allow the judiciary to exist.
“You remember that he was indicted by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on some of the properties and assets of the Rivers State Government. He was fully indicted. He went to court. The judge said, ‘Yes, the panel was right. You’re going to have to be sanctioned.’He went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the two courts. And that judgment was given two days before the primaries of the All Progressives Congress in 2022. And what were the issues? The man who wanted to fight corruption in one month.
“He took our Legacy plane (Rivers State Plane) to Germany for 12 years, no record. Until I came. I started looking for it, looking for it. Then I found it. And I had to go to Germany. We had to do everything, spend money to bring back that plane. This is a man who will stop corruption in one month?”
Concerning the Peoples Democratic Party National Elective Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo state, Wike stated that, as a member of the National Executive Committee, he is not aware of the planned event.
He pledged that his group would continue to fight against injustices within the PDP.
The FCT Minister stated, “I am not aware of any convention. If notice of a meeting is not given to members of the NEC, we have the right to challenge it, and nobody can deny me that right.”
When questioned about whether he would take the matter to court, Wike responded, “Our group is meeting tomorrow, and obviously, I don’t think we will allow injustice to prevail. I can assure you that we will not allow it. Nobody serves the interests of the PDP more than I do. None of them.”
Source: Punch
