Former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has recounted his experience at the campaign secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2018 where he almost died after he was poisoned.
He said he was diagnosed of liver and kidney failure at a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon.
Wike recalled that on a fateful Sunday in December 2018 when he was due to attend the thanksgivings of his former chief of staff, Chief Emeka Woke, he was incapacitated to attend the event because he had been poisoned.
Wike spoke yesterday at the family thanksgiving service organised in his honour at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom Deanery, of the Diocese of Niger Delta North.
The former governor said, “From that Sunday, I never came down from my room. It was bad, but those who attended the January 1, State Banquet of 2019, will know that I never spoke that day. I just sat down there and I told my deputy governor to speak on my behalf.
“People didn’t know what was going on. After that banquet, by 12 midnight, I was taken out of the country because I thought it was over. When we got to Beirut, the doctors looked at me and I was looking at them. They were not telling me anything, they said we have to do many tests.”
He stated that the next morning, the doctors returned and presented a gloomy report that his kidney and liver were no longer functioning.
Wike said, “I never knew that I had been poisoned in our campaign secretariat. My intestinal were all black. The doctors did all they could do.
“But, through divine providence, what would have been a disastrous situation was miraculously turned around by God, who immediately began to restore my failed organs.”
The former governor noted that within one week, God healed him and he was able to return to Nigeria to continue with the 2019 campaign for his second term in office.
Wike also recalled that in the days leading to the the 2022 PDP presidential campaign, his wife, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, called him from London that she had been diagnosed of cancer.
He said he was devastated by the news and even contemplated leaving the presidential race, but his wife urged him not to, adding that to the glory of God, she was eventually healed of cancer and her life preserved.
Wike said, “God went further to grant me and the state a smooth political transition amidst gang up that was staged by the same people who promised to abide by the collective decision of Rivers elders over who becomes my successor.”
He stated that because the right successor was chosen, he is enjoying peace.
On his part, President Tinubu described Wike as a dogged fighter who stands for fairness, equity and justice.
He said Wike had since 1999 distinguished himself in public office as a worthy patriot, detribalised and outstanding Nigerian who truly deserves to be celebrated.
The president, who spoke theough Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu, said the former Rivers governor is not just a brother of his, but a worthy patriot who he respects.
He said, “He is a worthy patriot. He is a man that is completely detribalised. He is an outstanding Nigerian. He is a pride to the Niger Delta, he is a pride to Rivers State, he is worthy a Nigerian.”
The president explained that he admires the former Rivers State governor for standing for his conviction and also for distinguishing himself in the past 24 years in public service, first as a former local government chairman, then former chief of staff to a governor, a former minister and of course two term state governor.
He said, “Nyesom Wike has served this state (Rivers) very well. Nyesom WIke has served this country very well and he deserves every recognition and every applause we are all giving to him today as a dogged fighter, as a man that believes in fairness, in equity and justice. He has continuously stood for what is right and proper and what is just.”
Speaking in his personal capacity, Sanwo-Olu thanked God for Wike’s life and all that he had enabled him to do for Rivers State during his eight years reign.
He said: “The country will be still be needing the services of Wike in the years ahead.
“Former Governor WIke, we thank God for your life, we thank God for what you have been, for what you have stood for, for the strength that God has given to you, and for all the wars you have conquered. There are still several wars ahead, and God will help you also to conquer.”
Also speaking, Senate President Akpabio said while Wike represents different things to different people, to the 10th Senate just inaugurated, he represents a pillar, a great friend and a shoulder to lean on.
Akpabio, who thanked President Tinubu for the seamless transition in the National Assembly, assured that both chambers will cooperate with the government to ensure that Nigerians get the dividends of democracy they have been yearning for.
He said: “We think we should use this platform to thank Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and his vice president, Senator Kashim Shettima, for recognising the need to put the National Assembly in order before commencing the business of governance.
“In less than 20 days in office, even the stock exchange has shown. Yes, indeed the right person is in the saddle.
Speaking at the event, Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, said he is part of Wike’s political family which was attacked by the political foes who failed to achieve their objectives.
Fubara stressed that because of the culture of thanksgiving to God, the former governor has continued to experience political victories.
On his part, the Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta North of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Ihunwo, admonished the congregation to always remember that without God no man can attain any position.
