The governor of Oyo, Seyi Makinde, has implored Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), not to “put fire” in his state.
Wike had in August, warned governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against meddling in the matters of the party in Rivers state.
The FCT minister and Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, have been at loggerheads on who will be in charge of the party’s political structure throughout the state.
The rancour between both men has birthed two factions in the Rivers house of assembly, with each camp having a speaker that is loyal to the minister and another one to the current governor.
The governor of Bauchi state, who doubles as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed had stated that the party’s structure in Rivers state will be assigned to Fubara.
Gutted by Mohammed’s comment, Wike responded by saying he would “put fire” in the states controlled by governors of the PDP that are supporting Fubara.
Subsequently, Mohammed replied to the FCT minister’s threat, saying he had adequate water to quench Wike’s fire.
However, whilst speaking on Saturday at an event organised in honour of the minister by the Ijaw Peoples Congress in Port Harcourt, Governor Makinde pleaded with the FCT minister to spare Oyo state should he decide to make bold his threat.
“I came to identify with my brother, the celebrant of today, the honourable minister of the federal capital territory and the immediate past governor of Rivers state,” Makinde said.
“When I showed up yesterday, I told him I brought peace offering because he has been boasting that he will put fire in some states. I said, please, don’t put fire in Oyo state.”
Addressing the crowd, Wike said that he is more powerful than all the governors backing Fubara.
“All those who are moving around saying they are supporting somebody… you know it is not correct. You know some people don’t have shame. I cannot serve your boy,” Wike said.
“Now, they are not even waiting, they are even rushing after the boy. They are not even waiting for the boy to call them. They are now rushing to the boy. People don’t have integrity.
“Don’t ever think that they’re fighting me. They are not fighting me. I am too big. If you don’t recognise somebody bigger than you, you know you are sick. I’m far bigger— all of them put together. They cannot stand it.
“When people said they will put hand here (in Rivers). I told them: if you come here and put your hand, hand too will enter your place (state). Now they are crying.”
The former Rivers governor claimed that the PDP lost the gubernatorial election in Edo to the All Progressives Congress (APC) because governors of the party lacked strategy.
“Instead of them (governors) concentrating on how they would win election in their state, they were holding meetings elsewhere to discuss Rivers state,” he said.
“Who is the loser? This is a warning to others. Don’t touch Rivers state. It is a special state to God.”