From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Speaking during a live media chat on Monday, Wike emphasised his political relevance and influence, asserting that despite ongoing challenges within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he remains a pivotal figure capable of delivering electoral success to Tinubu.

Wike confidently declared, “I came out. You have seen me here. I said I will support Asiwaju. The way we won other elections, that’s the way we will win. I’m not a liability. I’m an asset. Whether you agree, you don’t agree, I’m an asset. Whether you want to die, you don’t want to die, I’m an asset. No matter what, you may not like me, your likeness has nothing to make me… I’m an asset to making sure that Tinubu wins second tenure.”

He stressed his readiness to rally support for Tinubu in Rivers State, a key battleground in Nigeria’s political landscape. His declaration comes amid speculation about his future within the PDP and ongoing internal tensions within the party.

When confronted with rumours that he might contest against President Tinubu in 2027, Wike dismissed the notion and instead declared: “Are you not aware that I will lead the campaign in Rivers State? Oh, you want me to say no? Are you not aware that he did not get up to 10% there but he will win here?”

Confirming his support for Tinubu and that he will lead the campaign, the minister said, “Of course, is that hidden? Because I have said the South must produce the president, honourable minister.”

Reacting to ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s comment during an event marking his 60th birthday last week, where he stated, “We’re all hungry; all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power.

“In Nigeria, there are no capitalist ideas among the politicians; it’s about sharing.”

Wike responded with a lengthy critique: “You know one thing I don’t like about Nigerians, we have the time to listen to junk.”

When reminded that Amaechi was an influential figure, Wike retorted: “Who’s influential? What makes them influential? You think they’re influential?”

He then recounted Amaechi’s political career: “He was Speaker from 1999 to 2007, reading law in London as Speaker. Eight years as Speaker, eight years as governor, he never talked about hunger. He became Minister of Transport from 2015 to 2023, borrowing money for Afroximbank, he didn’t talk about hunger. Two years after leaving office, he says he’s hungry. You’re only hungry for power. That shows failure on his part.”

Wike accused Amaechi of insulting Nigerians by trivialising hunger: “How do you insult Nigerians? How do you trivialise hunger or poverty? Why do you do that? You join Atiku, you join El-Rufai because you are hungry. Have you not insulted Nigerians? It’s just that you can’t stay out of power. That’s the hunger.”

Wike also questioned Amaechi’s political influence: “He couldn’t produce a successor as governor, couldn’t give Buhari even 25% in Rivers State, was DG of Buhari’s campaign in 2019, but failed to deliver. In 2023, he supported Atiku and they didn’t even get 10%. So what is his influence?”

On PDP’s survival amid infighting, when asked if he cared about the PDP amid fears it might implode before 2027, Wike was defiant: “If I said something about PDP today and they are telling me to leave the PDP, you are not the one to tell me to leave the party. Let them leave the party.”

He acknowledged leadership problems, attributing it to plans by some people to kill the party: “Some people want to kill it. We say it will not die. We’ll make sure it will not die. That’s why we don’t allow them to get what they want.”

Wike pointed to recent losses in Delta and Akwa Ibom states as leadership failures: “You won’t tell me they didn’t have intelligence that Delta will go. You won’t tell me they had no intelligence that Akwa Ibom will go. Leadership, what would you do? Send a team to ask why? but No, instead they say ‘let them go.’ Opposition does not do impunity. We try to say, beg, put everybody together. You don’t say, ‘let them go.’”

Addressing questions on his future within the PDP, Wike dismissed insinuations of political uncertainty. “What do you mean by my future? Was I not in PDP before? Am I not in PDP? What do you mean by my future?” he asked rhetorically. Referring to Tinubu’s presidency, he said, “Is it because of Asiwaju’s presidency? Is it what you are talking about?”

When confronted with reports that he might run against Tinubu, Wike shot back, “Are you not aware that I will lead the campaign in Rivers State? Oh, you want me to say it? Are you not aware that he did not get up to 10% there, but he will win here?”

Confirming his role, Wike declared, “Of course, is that hidden? Because I have said the South must produce the president, honourable minister.”