I made Diri governor of Bayelsa – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has said he played a fundamental role in bringing the current governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, to power.

The minister, who disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, recalled that the governor cannot deny it.

Wike also stated the conditions under which he would forgive Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, his estranged political godson and successor, noting that he would let go of Fubara’s wrongdoings if the governor sincerely sought forgiveness.

The face-off between the two, it was gathered, stems from a struggle for control of the state’s political and structural resources.

During the interview, Wike revealed that two governors had approached him to help resolve the rift between him and Fubara.

He said, “Like the governor of Bayelsa, I played a fundamental role; he can’t deny it.

“Two governors came to me, and I said, ‘Look, I am here for peace. What does he want?’ and they said, ‘Look, we will do everything.

“In sincerity, if anybody comes, it must be in sincerity. The best opportunity was when the President intervened,” Wike stated.

The minister also backed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, saying he had initially wanted the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from office.

Wike stated that the president’s move saved Rivers from implosion, arguing that the decision to appoint a sole administrator following Fubara’s suspension was a step in the right direction.

“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.

“The matter is in court, but people must say the truth. The governor was gone. It is not my place to make it good for the governor. As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable, and that is why there is a power plane,” Wike added.

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