PORT HARCOURT — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said it is entirely within the powers of President Bola Tinubu to remove him from office, insisting that such a decision rests solely with his “appointor and not with critics calling for his sack.”
Wike spoke on Sunday during a “thank you” visit to Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, his political base, amid growing calls by some politicians and interest groups for his removal over the lingering political crisis in the state.
He dismissed the agitation for his sack, stressing that politics is driven by interests rather than sentiments or emotions. According to him, if President Tinubu feels he no longer has anything to contribute to the administration, the President has the constitutional right to take any decision he deems fit.
“Don’t bother about people who say ‘sack him’. If my appointor believes that I cannot offer anything again, he has the right to do so. It is not in your place to tell him what to do,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor added that President Tinubu understands his value and does not require external pressure or advice to make decisions about his cabinet.
Reaffirming his political influence, Wike declared that Obio/Akpor remains the political heartbeat of Rivers State, boasting the capacity to determine electoral outcomes. He said no governor or senator has emerged from the state without the endorsement of the local government area.
“For the people of Obio/Akpor, we have the power to dictate who becomes governor in Rivers. Nobody has become governor or senator in Rivers East without Obio/Akpor making a pronouncement,” he said.
Wike warned political opponents against underestimating the voting strength of the area, noting that those who insult or attack its people would be punished at the polls.
He also praised President Tinubu for what he described as the benefits Rivers people have enjoyed under his administration, assuring that the support would be reciprocated in the 2027 general election.
Addressing his critics, Wike said he deliberately chose to be a politician and should be allowed to practise politics without interference. “I did not choose to be a pastor, trader, public commentator or journalist. Allow me to play my politics,” he said.
Earlier, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Kingsley Chinda, said Obio/Akpor has over 684,000 voters out of Rivers State’s 3.5 million registered voters, describing the area as an unrivalled political force in the state.
“With this voting strength, nobody can challenge the political power of Obio/Akpor in Rivers State,” Chinda said, pledging the continued support of the people for the minister.
Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr Gift Worlu, described Wike as a “gift” to the local government area, Rivers State and Nigeria, citing his record of service at the local, state and national levels.
Worlu said the council’s support for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election had yielded significant benefits for the people, assuring that the area already knows where it stands ahead of the 2027 presidential polls.
On the governorship election, he added, “We do not know where to go yet, but we know where not to go.”
Also speaking, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Martin Amaewhule, reaffirmed the support of the people of Obio/Akpor for Wike, assuring him of prayers and backing from lawmakers.
Amaewhule said the state assembly would continue to support Wike’s call for the re-election of President Tinubu, adding: “Tell Mr President what we did for him in 2023; we will do even better in 2027.”
