How Wike’s ‘right hand’ men are creeping into strong positions

How Wike’s ‘right hand’ men are creeping into strong positions

●  Boma Iyaye, Tony Okocha secure NDDC appointments as Wike’s influence within the Tinubu Govt soars

By Elem Kash & Jonas Happy

 

What looks like the growing influence of ex-governor Nyesom Wike within the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is manifesting. Those considered his close political allies are securing strategic positions and appointments as a result.

It is s trend that is gradually unfolding, a trend that is becoming clearly visible and a trend that is bringing joy to so many in the Rivers State and beyond.

But as our Correspondents who went round Port Harcourt city discovered Tuesday night, the thought of Wike’s growing influence is similarly unnerving some political foes of the Rivers strongman.

“Wike no send”, an excited Rivers youth about the age of 19 said late Tuesday night  when our Correspondent stopped over at a pub.

The young man was sharing a drink with a friend who appeared lost in his own world when the news of the new appointments in the NDDC came through on Channelstv.

It was the New @ 10 and many night crawlers in the smoke-filled bar, one of the many bars that are found between Victoria, Bende and  Bonny Streets, were equally watching  the TV.

“Na him fit dem”, Tonye said, his voice rising a little, “Wike na man! Na man wey sabi… Thank God ooo, we dey follow man wey know road”

Somehow, Wike’s men are reportedly moving in. Bit by bit, they are holding unto powerful and influencial positions.

They are in the Senate as well as the House of Representatives. These men and women are part of existing party structures within political parties in and outside Rivers State.

Now, there are signs that some of his right-hand men are creeping into the boards of federal agencies and parastatals.

Watchers of the political scene who are closely following the trend of events across the nation reveal that the appointments so far made within the first 100 days in office of President Tinubu reflect the level of confidence that is being placed on Wike’s shoulder.

“Wike’s worth as a close confidant and real friend of the President is gradually coming to light. Most people can see it, others can feel it”, an observer told this publication.

“Those who openly criticized Wike and said while he was slugging it out in the PDP that he would be finished after handing over as Governor of Rivers State must be gasping for air now”, another source who pleaded anonymity remarked, “they are wondering what is happening.”

Apart from Wike’s emergence as a member of the Federal Executive Council and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, his men in various states are being integrated into the system dominated by the APC as members of critical boards.

 

Tuesday evening,  Chief Boma Iyaye, a prominent son of Rivers State and one-time Commissioner in the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike got appointed as the Director of Finance and Administration of the NDDC by President Bola Tinubu.

Iyaye who has been with Wike for years is a member of the Peoples Democraticin Rivers State.

 

Also named as the Rivers State NDDC Representative on a list of appointees released by Ajuri Ngelale, SSA  to the President is Chief Tony Okocha.

Okocha is the only prominent leader in the Rivers APC to honestly testify in the open to Wike’s contributions towards Asiwaju’s victory.

When other members of the party who neither campaigned nor supported Asiwaju in the Rivers opposition vehemently accused Wike of trying to reap where he did not sow, Okocha snapped, disagreed with them and fought all the way in support of truth.

Recall that the Obio-Akpor born politician served under the administration of Rotimi Amaechi as Chief of Staff, Government House.

Barrister Frank Owhor, a one-time Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General has since been appointed by the President as a member of the board of the North East Development Commission.

  Hon. Kelechi Nwogu heads a House Committee on Maritime.

 

On the floor of Parliament, Hon. Kingsley Chinda is the Minority Leader on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Similarly, Rivers lawmakers,  ranked and unranked, are currently serving chairmen of sensitive committees in the Reps. They include Dum Dekor and Kelechi Nwogu.

Within the Senate, the three Senators from Rivers State have emerged as committee chairmen.

While the former Deputy Governor under Wike is chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Barry Mpigi is chairman of a committee on the Niger Delta.

Allwell Onyesoh is the Senate Committee chairman on Federal Character which oversights the commission that typically deals with how an acceptable quota system can be utilised in sharing employment slots at the Federal level to Nigerians equitably.

Although not many talk about these developments in the open, well informed persons attribute these movements that are benefitting Rivers people to Wike’s behind the scene support.

On the Rivers home front, there is silence where there used to be a lot of  “mouth – talk”. Mouth talk is Etche’s contribution to the evolving political lexicon of Rivers State.

It is becoming clear from the run of events that the powers that be at the centre may have indeed decided to hand over the entire structure of the APC in Rivers State to the former governor.

This is what APC members who are supporters of Rotimi Amaechi are inferring, when they launch barrage of attacks against the Tinubu Presidency, but Wike has never said publicly that he is leaving the PDP.

But if Wike truly has exclusive control of the internal structure of the APC, it would simply give him an added feather.

As things already are, Wike who remains a major issue has control of the political machine of the PDP in Rivers State and a very strong presence in .other parts of the country.

“The man is surpassing the expectations of his critics in every sense. He is not getting weaker as they predicted, looking at what is playing out in the political space.

“Instead, he appears to be getting deep-rooted in the emerging system that APC is putting in place”, an Abuja source noted.

“How can Tinubu do this to us? Whatever happened we are APC. How can he give everything to Wike”, a strong ally of Rotimi Amaechi who spoke to our Correspondent queried.

Abe supporters feel their principal who left the APC to contest for the governorship seat has been literally abandoned.

“It’s Wike everywhere. He has taken over every available space”, a disgruntled Abe loyalist stated, “we can’t say what nature has for us going forward”, an Ogoni who worked for Abe noted.

Within political circles,  the belief is that Wike really has Rivers interests at heart, the same way he is able to champion national interests.

Given the way that he has started, there are strong expectations in Rivers State that he is likely to do more.

In the meantime Eze Chukwuemeka Eze and Darlington Nwauju, spearheads of the attack on Wike struggle to make their voices heard.

Eze the other day on the social media took a swipe at President Bola Tinubu and abused him over what he sees as his pro-Wike disposition.

Nobody on the Wike side has reacted to Eze, a man that most Rivers people who are interested strongly in Rivers matters see as an unwanted “tombofly” and a meddlesome interloper.

It would appear that the tide is changing as the waves driven by the political waters of the Rivers State flow ceaselessly.

In Abuja, where the powerful show strength and join others in deciding the fate of over two hundred million Nigerians, Wike holds sway as the FCT Minister.

For those who have practiced eyes; who understand the rhythmic chant of the Rivers drum, and the murmur of escalating waves of emotions; the murky currents carry with them, aspirations of the Rivers people and their historic quest to join the mainstream of Nigerian politics.