Olushola Omogbehin
Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that rainbow coalition in Rivers State will secure every elective position in 2027.
He stated this during a “thank you” visit to Asari Toru Local Government Area of the state, where he also described Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as “a bad child” who lacks gratitude.
Rainbow coalition being the working together of APC, PDP and other political parties under one roof of the Renewed Hope Family to produce winners in an election, Wike who is optimistic that this would work gave the example of the last local government election where his loyalists in the APC won 20 local governments of the 23 in the state, while PDP was allowed to win just three local governments.
“After President Tinubu, the Rainbow Coalition will produce every elective position in Rivers State in 2027. So, if you don’t sincerely belong to this rainbow family, forget it.”
Stating the benefits Rivers people have been enjoying for supporting President Tinubu in 2023, Wike assured them that “this year will be better than last year”.
Appreciating the people of the state for supporting President Tinubu in the last election, he said the risk taken in the election which has been yielding positive result will continue to yield as the state continues on the track.
“Continue on this track and you will continue to reap good results. I assure you that I will stand with you at the appropriate time,” Wike said.
Wike accused Fubara of taking credit for projects he (Wike) started in Ahoada and Emohua local government areas together with the cancellation of an employment scheme for 10,000 youths which was also initiated by him.
“When I decided to dualise this Ahoada road, people thought it was impossible. But by the grace of God, today, Ahoada East, Ahoada Town, is coming back to be the city it is supposed to be. I finished phase one of this dualisation.
“Then I flagged off phase two, which would end up in Omoku. The job was given the same day as Emohua’s job in the Kalabari area. I gave it to Julius Berger, and we signed an agreement for Julius Berger to collect N4 billion every month from our IGR.
“The total amount of that road, and the one from Emohua to the Kalabari area, was about N80 billion. So, I said, if they collect N4 billion every month, that would give them 48 billion. That in two years’ time, they would have completed.
“Today, I hear people are making noise. They even forgot who laid the foundation. On that road, I gave it to Setraco. I paid about 70 per cent. I remember that day, they gave me 100 plots of land. I said, thank you, I don’t need land there. What is continuity?
“I employed Rivers State youths, 10,000. The person we handed over power to, instead of allowing the 10,000 youths, he cancelled that job. 10,000 youths. A bad child is a bad child.”
Calling Fubara a mistake, Wike said:
“One thing I can assure you is this: when a man makes a mistake and comes back to say, ‘I am sorry, I made a mistake,’ that mistake can be corrected. No propaganda, no shouting and no battle can solve problems. Only accountability and correction can.
“Here, we don’t focus on political parties. What we have is a family, a rainbow coalition. If you don’t belong to this family, forget it. After the president, this family will determine the direction of the state.”
