Bridle your tongue oga Wike to continue enjoying Grace

Tuesday Column By VICTORIA NGOZI IKEANO 

vikeano@yahoo.co.uk 08033077519

There is no shadow of doubt that current federal capital territory minister who is also immediate past two-term governor of the oil rich Rivers state and former minister of state  education, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike performs creditably well in any position he finds himself.  As governor he was named ‘Mr. Projects’ by no less a personality than then vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. And now Nigeria’s current number one citizen, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly named him as his ‘best minister’.  Wike who began his political career as Chairman of his native local government council (Obiakpor) can proudly bear these honours as invaluable political credits for his claim to higher political portfolios. Having been a governor and minister, I suppose the next higher political ladder is vice president. He can even stake a claim to the presidency.  Based on his competence in delivering on jobs assigned to him, one can say that Wike is a fit and proper person for any higher position. However, he has a drawback which would prove to be his undoing unless he bestirs himself with  determination to tame it, uproot it and burn it off.  This is a friendly advice borne out of my best wishes for him.

That drawback that he is nurturing (after a noticeable brief lull) and which is festering to a monster that may consume him if not boldly tackled is his caustic tongue that he lets go often, at the first temptation.  Wike’s intemperate language had strained his relationship with some former PDP governors, notably then Governors David Umahi (Ebonyi) and Ben Ayade (Cross River). Both confessed that they decamped from PDP to APC {during Buhari’s administration} because of then Governor Wike’s coarse attitude. Even current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio as chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with headquarters in Wike’s state (Port Harcourt, Rivers state) was once tongue lashed by him. Governor Wike’s legendary battle with the ruling APC government of Buhari for which he somehow prides himself  for not having slept in Abuja for most of his tenure is well documented, He was often represented in most official engagements in Abuja involving the federal government rather than attend himself. During COVID pandemic the Rivers helmsman said that Rivers’ share of bags of rice donated to all states as palliative was contaminated. This was rather uncharitable because he was implying knowingly or unknowingly that the federal government wanted to poison Rivers’ citizens. Haba!   He did not spare royal fathers. At a meeting with members of the State’s Traditional Rulers’ Council in Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike spoke to them in a condescending manner. These are people that should be held in high esteem by all. His errant disposition made people to label him “Emperor”

By all means you can disagree with anyone, an institution, a higher authority or your colleagues but decorum, the true humanity in each of us demands that we do so with respect without indecent, coarse language that disparage the other person. Wike had an opportunity to be a changed person in the run up to the 2023 general elections but  he let the opportunity slip by and succumbed to temptation.  Recall that then Governor Wike had vied for the PDP 2023 presidential ticket along with Atiku Abubakar and others, sure that he was in a pole position to win. But the tables turned and the former vice president carried the day; though Wike attributed his loss to last minute decision of one of the aspirants to withdraw from the race and simultaneously rallying his supports to vote for Alhaji Atiku. Then came the time for  Waziri to pick a running mate. PDP chieftains recommended three names from which to choose, namely, Governor Wike of Rivers state, Governor Okowa of Delta state and Governor Udom Emmanuel  of Akwa Ibom state. As is the norm the PDP presidential flag bearer was expected to select the runner up in the primary as the party’s vice presidential candidate, that is, Wike. Instead Alhaji Atiku chose Okowa. He was overlooked, thus losing both the presidential primary and vice presidential slot. PDP insiders attributed his losses to his lack of necessary consideration for his fellow human beings.  According to them Wike is generally seen as being talkative, arrogant, undisciplined (in that he often cannot control his emotions), quick to anger, abusive, insulting and the like. Apparently Governor Wike would have felt disappointed, pained that generality of his own party members view him in that light. Thereafter he took a break and went to Turkey for a deserved rest.   Such a beautiful environment devoid of loiters and hangers on  was a good place for him to do some introspections, reflect on his experiences at that primary election and to resolve to change how majority of Nigerians view him. And for quite a while after being appointed FCT minister Wike evinced some kind of low profile, all was quiet at his end so to speak.

Then the outbursts reared their ugly heads. Most telling was his encounter with a young naval officer in uniform guarding a plot of land in Abuja which Wike had gone to inspect. In course of their interaction he barked at the officer to “shut up”.  As political activities were gathering momentum, APC national chairman, Nantewe Yilwatda had cause to caution him not to dabble into APC’s internal affairs since he does not belong to their party.  In one of his monthly media chats, the minister described Imo state governor Hope Uzodinma  and Kwara state governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as his enemies. He released a bombshell recently. Recall that the Progressive (APC) Governors Forum chaired by  Uzodinma had at end of their meeting unanimously resolved that their “members will not participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the reelection of Mr. President, weakening the APC or affecting any candidate of the party at all levels”. They were referring to Wike’s ‘Rainbow coalition’ of supporting (voting) for APC candidate at the presidential election and PDP flag bearers for other elections.  Minister Wike flew off the handle, describing them as “being smart like 419ners”, that is fraudsters. He added that they are “politically lazy”. These are leaders that hold sway in 32 of the 36 states in Nigeria. By more or less referring to them as scammers and lazy, the minister has diminished their reputation in the eyes of those they govern, Nigerians and even foreigners.  And speaking particularly about the Imo governor, he said, “He is lucky I am not in APC because I would not take that nonsense he is doing in APC”. He further maligned Uzodinma when speaking through his senior special assistant on public communication and social media, he said, “Politics is no longer about coming from fourth position to be governor.  It is about genuinely mobilizing support and winning elections from the polling units”. I sense that the APC would demand sack of this SSA.

The minister’s penchant for ‘bad mouthing’ people would cost him higher political upliftment if he does not bridle his tongue.    Admittedly, some people hail Minister Wike for this his trait. This is understandable because in this world of coarse matter where good and evil dwell side by side you would find kindred spirits for whom sordid behaviours are a kind of elixir.  They only lead the person blinded by their flattering unto the road of perdition.   Christ admonished us, ‘‘Let your communication be yea or nay’’ for whatever cometh after that is evil. We all should guard against talkativeness.