Blessing Ibunge in Port HarcourtThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has declared that President Bola Tinubu is now “our brother,” insisting that the people of Rivers State would support the President’s bid for a second term in 2027.Wike made the declaration yesterday, at a grand reception organised in his honour by the Rainbow Coalition in Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, where he also recalled the support he received from the people of the area during his 2015 governorship campaign.
The event was attended by Senator Allwell Onyesoh; Kingsley Ogundu Chinda; Chima Boms; Sunny Ejekwu; OCJ Okocha; traditional rulers and other political leaders, among others.Wike said his decision to attend the reception was informed by his longstanding relationship with the people of Ikwerre, recalling that the community stood by him when he contested the governorship of Rivers State in 2015.According to him, despite the fact that the incumbent governor at the time was an Ikwerre son, the people of the area overwhelmingly supported his ambition.
“I was astonished to see the mammoth support from Ikwerre. To God be the glory, I won Ikwerre in that election of 2015. It was not easy, but you all stood firm and supported me,” he said.The former Rivers State governor subsequently turned his attention to the meaning of political “brotherhood,” citing former governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as the politician who, according to him, defined the concept.Wike said brotherhood, in politics, should be based on who identifies with the people, cares about their welfare and supports their survival, rather than on blood relationship.
