An ex-Commissioner for Works and later Water Resources during Peter Odili’s administrations in Rivers State, David Briggs, says the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, cannot survive in a peaceful environment.
This is as he dismissed Wike’s claims of reviving Odili’s political career, crediting Odili with facilitating Wike’s rise in politics.
Briggs stated this while addressing newsmen on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, stating that Wike’s second tenure as Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA was made possible by Odili’s intervention.
He said Odili reinstated Wike’s name on the nomination list, paving the way for his continued political advancement.
According to Briggs, who currently serves as the Chairman, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, the public should disregard Wike’s comments about Odili, describing the FCT Minister as someone who thrives in discord.
“Wike as a person cannot and will not survive where there is peace, and that is the problem we have in Rivers State today”, he said.
Briggs also accused Wike of inciting crises to maintain political relevance, citing the recent lull in Rivers State’s political tensions after a court judgement restored federal allocations to the state.
“If you note since after the court judgement concerning the release of federal allocation to the state government, the state had been quiet. Rivers State was fast enjoying peace and Wike had just created the problems so that he will be the beneficiary,” he added.
Briggs further alleged that Wike’s political success, including his governorship bid, was facilitated by Odili and the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, with a viral video showing Wike being introduced to Odili by Patience Jonathan for political endorsement.
He faulted Wike’s comments as insulting to Odili and Rivers people, stressing Odili’s important role in building the state’s political structure.
He also accused Wike of currently inciting political crises across various Local Government Areas of the state to maintain control.
Briggs, however, vowed that Rivers people would not allow Wike to continue benefiting from such controversies, expressing disappointment that President Bola Tinubu may have failed to call his minister, Nyesom Wike, to order.
He, therefore, issued a stern warning to Wike to apologize to the people of Rivers State for his alleged excesses or face the possibility of more revelations about him.