Nigeria’s minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has apologized to Felix Obuah, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, for not backing his governorship bid in 2023.
Wike spoke on Sunday at an event organised by Obuah in Omoku, a town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers state.
The minister, who is the immediate past governor of Rivers, expressed regrets for not backing Obuah’s governorship bid at the time. Wike had backed Siminalayi Fubara instead, who was eventually elected governor.
Wike and Fubara have since fallen out after getting embroiled in a feud over control of the state’s political structure.
Wike said as chairman of the PDP, Obuah, better known as Go Round, supported him to become governor, adding that he should have reciprocated the gesture.
“Leadership is all about firmness, it’s all about courage, it’s all about transparency. When a leader makes a wrong decision, nothing stops that leader from coming back to say, I am sorry for that decision I took,” Wike said.
“My relationship with Felix Obuah started in 2004 when he became the chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government.
“That was my second tenure and that was his first tenure. He showed that he is a man whom God has blessed and, therefore, he always contributes to people in appreciation of God’s favour in his life.
“It may be painful on how Obuah was treated by the then government but he is one of those people that will not hesitate to obey my decision. That is why I say, today, I will use this opportunity to do something that is uncommon.
“In 2023, if you look at those which ordinarily I should support for governorship, Go Round should be one of them in forefront.
“That is if we do things based on your contribution, based on your support, Go Round is the first two persons that ought to get my support. So, I want to use this opportunity to apologise to all of you, to Onelga for taking a decision that hurt you. I am sorry.
“Your judgment may not be right all the time, but I am a human being, I may make mistake. But it’s important for you to realise your mistake and apologise to the people. So, I beg you to beg Go Round to forgive me. I hope one day another opportunity may come but let nobody lose faith.
“If God has blessed you, no amount of gang-up that can make you to lose faith in your God. That strength that God has given us, we will replicate it at the appropriate time.
“We will know who knows left and who knows right. Obuah as the leader of the party, supported me and I become the governor.
“It doesn’t matter about people abusing me. They said Wike is wicked. It is the same man that told Go Round and others to step down.”
In the buildup to the 2023 governorship election in Rivers, Wike had prevailed on aspirants on the PDP platform to step down for Fubara.
