Wike: Not too big to serve my country
By Jonas Happy
Ex-Governor Nyesom Wike: Fight of my life, he says, was against injustice and people of impunity.
Immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike says that nobody has approached him with a proposal to serve as a federal minister in Tinubu’s government which is steadily changing the face of governance in Nigeria.
However, the former governor whose stout support is believed to have tilted the scale of balance in favor of the new helmsman and eventual winner of the 2023 general elections stated, “I am not too big to serve my country.”
Wike’s reaction is coming against the background of growing speculations that his regular visits to the Aso Rock Villa may not be unconnected with a plan to anoint him as a minister.
Several Nigerians including those in the PDP are seemingly watching the dance step of the Rivers strongman whose stance not to back Atiku Abubakar hurt his presidential bid.
“Tinubu has not informed me about getting an appointment”, Wike said in reaction to growing speculations.
What would likely happen if such an offer were to be made now that he has finished serving as governor of Rivers State?
“I am not too big to serve my country”, Wike is quick to say to newsmen, “but he (Tinubu) has never told me that he would give me an appointment.”
“If he asks me, the first thing I will do is to ask my wife and friends what they think about it”, the ex-governor added.
Within the PDP where hints of an impending national government are being heard, there is what seems like a wait-and-see attitude.
Insiders insist there has been no communication between the PDP and the Tinubu administration over the possibility of forging a national government.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba disclosed in an interview with the Punch that the party was yet to receive any hint about Wike’s intentions to serve in Tinubu’s government.
Describing the PDP as a party of “process” and “democracy”, Debo who acknowledged they are in court noted that its members are aware of its beliefs.
“Whether we are approached or not”, the spokesperson noted, “the PDP is a party of process and a truly democratic party.
“But let me say this, our members are conscious of what the party believes in. They are aware that we are in court, and they will be guided appropriately.
“They know the right thing to do and the consequences of not doing the right thing.”
Regarding the possibility of PDP members serving in Tinubu’s administration, Debo Ologunagba explained, “Until we are approached, the party cannot give you an official statement or reaction.
Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar, the battle between them resulted in Tinubu’s electoral victory in the presidential elections.
“I speak for this party and I know what the PDP stands for. Whatever I tell you now will not be important because we have not been approached, and we are not aware that any of our members have been approached either.”
Apparently suggesting the PDP would have nothing to do with a consensus or national government, Ologunagba emphasized, “You can’t come up with appointments across the board in the name of a government of national unity.
“National unity based on fraud and illegality? You can’t build something on nothing and expect it to stand.”
Ologunagba told the Punch that it be nice to see PDP members accept to serve in the APC government first.
Thereafter, he said, “we will know what to do. In the event that this happens, which is a possibility, we will react appropriately.”