The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stated that Rivers State cannot afford to have an “imbecile'” as governor.
Wike, who spoke at the Ahoada East and Ahoada West PDP End of Year Thanksgiving in Rivers State, made the remark while berating former governor of the state, Celestine Omehia.
This comes after Omedia described Wike, the immediate past governor of the state, as an “underperformer.”
Omehia, now an ally of the Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, rated Fubara’s “achievements” as governor of the state higher than that of Wike, his predecessor.
Wike, who played a pivotal role in making Fubara his successor, has since fallen out with the governor, leading to both parties being at loggerheads over the control of the state.
Reacting to Omehia’s remark, Wike mentioned that Omehia’s grouse with him stemmed from his being booted out of the government house.
“I overheard one imbecile, and let him challenge me, an imbecile Celestine Omehia. I say so, and that is why when he wanted to occupy the Government House, I kicked him out. We could not have an imbecile as governor.
“He said they should ask me what I have done for Rivers State. That is why I say he is an imbecile. If he understands that, I am not a minister of a ministry!
“I am the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. When I was Minister of Education, he would have challenged me and asked, ‘What did you bring to Rivers State?’ I was Minister of Education; I brought the Faculty of Law to the University of Port Harcourt.
“I gave grants to Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic; I gave grants to Ignatius Ajuru University. I made sure to renovate the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, and the Federal Government Girls College, Abuloma. That was what I thought,” Wike stated.