The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu, saying he and his political allies stood with the President during the 2023 presidential election when doing so was difficult in Rivers State.
Wike said the same support would continue now that the political climate has become favourable, stressing that those who took a bold stand when it mattered most would not be forgotten.
The minister spoke on Saturday in Ochigba, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, during a meeting with Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders, held on the sidelines of an end-of-the-year thanksgiving service organised by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, in his hometown.
He urged party stakeholders and supporters to remain steadfast in their backing for Tinubu despite intimidation and political pressure in the state, assuring them that their sacrifices would not be in vain.
Wike noted that those who openly supported Tinubu before the 2023 election played a critical role in his victory, unlike those who only began chanting support slogans after the polls.
He said, “I want to say thank you for being there for us all through these years. We know those who are ungrateful. Thank you for standing with us. Remember in 2023, when it was tough. Nobody knows what will happen in that election. So many people were saying that it will be difficult for President Bola Tinubu to win then. So many people were not able to come out openly and boldly to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“But we all met to say in politics you must take a stand, you must take a decision whether it will be good or bad, but we know at the end of the day it will be good. And now it is good. We did it when it was difficult to say on your mandate we stand. And to the glory of God, we stood today. You are the ones who made the President strong as far as Rivers State is concerned.”
The minister criticised those who only became vocal in their support after Tinubu’s victory, insisting that true loyalty was proven during the tough period before the election.
“So, all these people now that you are seeing singing ‘on your mandate we shall stand’, that time when they were needed most, they couldn’t sing that and could not come out to say vote for Tinubu. Now that we stood and voted for him and Rivers State won, I tell you all your struggle will not go in vain,” he added.
Wike also hinted that political activities would intensify from January, emphasising his belief in keeping to agreements.
“From January next year, let me inform you that we will start politics. You know me, I believe in ‘agreement is agreement’. Anything you know you cannot do, don’t say it,” he said.
He maintained that attacks against him were linked to his firm stance on honouring political agreements, noting that his support for Tinubu had always been open and consistent.
“For us, we have said that we will continue to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is the position you took and that is the position you are going to still take. I came to reassure you that no problem,” Wike said.