Abe, Cole quiet as Wikes gets ready for inauguration as minister

Abe, Cole quiet as Wikes gets ready for inauguration as minister

● Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, CRA’s ‘hitman’ continues anti-Wike campaigns;
● Okocha, others have the last laugh

By Jonas Happy

It is no longer a matter of if ex-governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike will be heading to Abuja.

He will, especially after the Nigerian Senate confirmed his appointment as a Minister.

Right now the debate is about what portfolio President Bola Tinubu would assign to him.

While some are linking his name to the Federal Ministry of Works, others are speculating that he may be given charge over the Ministry of Niger Delta.

Initially, there were speculations in some important circles that Wike may bag the Transportation Ministry which was occupied by Rotimi Amaechi for almost eight years under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Except for the many press releases signed by Eze Chukwuemeka Eze seen as Rotimi Amaechi’s ‘hitman’, the Rivers political atmosphere appears to have cooled down considerably.

Senator Magnus Abe and Tonye Cole who were up in arms weeks ago appear to have gone quiet.

Both men have not be heard in public since the Senate decision showed that Wike had cleared the last hurdle on the path to a ministerial seat.

While most of the time Cole hinged his argument on the right of members of the Rivers APC to enjoy the benefit of the Tinubu appointment, Abe insisted that he worked hard for the President despite crossing over to the Social Democratic Party to chase his gubernatorial ambition.

Although the South South got one more slot,  the Rivers State did not get it.

Cross River State got two ministerial slots while Rivers got one.

Analysts are interpreting the development as a that despite the struggle which had preceded the nomination, Wike would emerge as the eye and ear of the new government.

What a battle it turned out to be. The social media often referred to as the new media and the popular media were set ablaze.

While Cole fired from one angle, Abe took it from the other. The aim was to ensure as much as possible that Wike did not get it.

Supporters of Abe and Cole are not in the meantime engaging actively on social media, a sign that their moral may have suffered a setback.

This may suggest that the political war fought in a typical Rivers manner has been fought and lost.

There are no signs that Cole and Abe are within the State at the moment.

Tony Okocha had campaigned for Wike. He had fought with supporters of the APC  and the SDP over the slot meant for Rivers State.

Okocha and others like him had insisted that Wike deserved the slot given his astute support for Tinubu.

Okocha who was decorated with the prestigious honour, Distinguished  Service Star of Rivers State, DSSRS, may be having the last laugh.

The Tinubu government would work with Barr. Wike who is already waiting to be sworn in as a member of the Federal Executive Council.

Eze signs his press countless releases as the former publicity of the nPDP, a factional platform which was used years ago by Amaechi and the governors who left the PDP for the APC.

He is yet to throw in the towel and not many in Rivers State think this is not what Eze should be doing now.

Despite being a non indigene (he is infact from Ebonyi State), Eze has continued with his endless attacks on Wike.

In one his recent releases, Eze claimed that Wike will not be sworn in.

The world looks on from the sideline to see what will happen even as Eze continues on social media with his anti-Wike preaching.

People are planning to empty into Abuja for the inauguration of Wike. All they are waiting for is the blast of the whistle, signaling that the stage.

Incidentally, the list of prominent men who are poised to make the trip from what we heard include elders of the State and top Rivers politicians.