2023: Ikwerre Votes Gave Tinubu Victory In Rivers, Says Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared that results from the four local government areas in Ikwerreland of Rivers State, gave President Bola Tinubu victory during the 2023 presidential election.

The local government areas that make up Ikwerreland are Emohua, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City.

Wike, who spoke yesterday at Emohua, headquarters of Emohua LGA, during a Christmas visit to the people of the area, said the Ikwerre ethnic nationality cannot be ignored.

He said it would be a mistake to do so.

Reflecting on the last presidential election, the minister said: “In 2023, we led it; when people where afraid to come out support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; when it was difficult, nobody knew what will happen.

“The whole place was shaking, we came out just like an Ikwerre son and people believed in me. I told you do not worry, we will win. When everybody thought that our political future was finished, but I said, you are not God to tell us that. It is only God and since God has not told us, you are talking rubbish.

“I said we will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu and if you watch the results, it is local governments in Ikwerreland that produced the results that made Ahmed Bola Tinubu to win.”

He stated that the people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality will continue to remain relevant in the politics of Nigeria and can no longer be ignored.

“I want to assure you, you don’t need to panic. As my people you don’t need to panic. Ikwerre will continue to remain relevant in the politics of this country.

“Ikwerre ethnic nationality are not people you ignore; No! Let nobody make that mistake to ignore us. If you ignore us, you ignore yourself. So, let everybody be strong,” Wike said.

The FCT minister has been on tour of local governments in Rivers State during the Christmas holidays.

His tour comes as Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a manner that suggests a renewed friction between the governor and state lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule who also recently defected to the APC alongside other lawmakers.

Wike is the political leader of the Amaewhule state legislators.

Despite being a Peoples Democratic Party member, the FCT minister had been a strong political ally of the president, declaring recently that he has no regrets supporting Tinubu in 2023.