Nyesom Wike, the eccentric governor of Rivers State, has never shied away from public battles. His feuds are unlike any other. The governor’s backup band provides the live music which serves as the battle cry urging him forward to fight. To the outsider it’s comic relief, but to the unfortunate receiver, it’s like collecting a whip of an Oraimo cord around your neck.
Wike has cemented his status as the Mike Tyson of Nigerian politics with a growing list of victims from Rotimi Amaechi to Aminu Tambuwal, Atiku Abubakar and Iyorchia Ayu. The latest public figure to get in the boxing ring with him is the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
How did the fight start?
Monday is the start of the work week, and Wike’s work on December 5, 2022 was Dogara whose case the governor tabled before his people.
“What I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time, I would challenge them to a debate. Ask Dogara: what made you leave PDP?
“Dogara was to see me; unknown to me, he gave me an excuse and I was watching Dogara on TV being received by President Muhammadu Buhari that he had gone to APC. I said, “Okay, no problem”. The same Dogara said the presidency should be zoned to southern Nigeria for there to be peace. Now, I hear about the same Dogara (backing Atiku from the North). Is that how you do things? Can’t you say something and stand by it?”
How did Dogara respond?
Dogara recently endorsed Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whom Wike is also fighting. The former speaker didn’t even wait for another working day to find his own Oraimo cord to wipe on Wike’s neck. He tweeted that the outspoken governor may be suffering from memory loss.
Dogara said the reason he hasn’t spilled the beans is because he still regards Wike as a friend. He asked for written consent from Wike to air his secrets in the open.
What’s next?
Naturally, we’re all expecting a response from Wike. If these politicians are ready to fight in the mud, who are we to get in their way? So long it’s just political banter, it would make for high quality entertainment. And in case there are serious accusations being thrown about, we trust that agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are on standby to take it up.
