Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the
embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC)
Adams Oshiomhole and his associates came from a background of Armed
Robbers to steal the mandate of Rivers people, but were strongly
resisted, hence Oshiomhole’s bitterness towards Rivers State.
Governor Wike who stated that he is not a violent politician,
emphasised that under no circumstances would Rivers people allow
Oshiomhole and his associates rob Rivers mandate.
The Rivers State Governor called for the resignation of Adams Oshiomhole
in view of his failure to stop the inauguration of Bayelsa State
Governor as he boasted.
He spoke in an interview at the Government House Port Harcourt on
Saturday.
He said: “This is a country where you see people who do not have
character. Today they sing a song, tomorrow they sing another song. I
think Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the All Progressives
Congress PC is not a character that anybody should associate with.
“First of all I have never been violent and I will never be violent.
However, when you see an armed robber come to your house, will you plead
with the armed robber and say please I beg you leave my house. People
think that armed robbers are only those who cart away people’s money.
The worst form of armed robbery is when you steal peoples mandate and
just like what Oshiomhole is noted for. He thinks because he’s in the
ruling party, he can use security to steal the mandate of the people. He
was taught a lesson, a bitter lesson and I want to repeat, if you come
to steal our mandate, the people will respond accordingly. They will
oppose your stealing of their mandate and so Oshiomhole thinks that
because he is in the ruling party nobody should say anything or do
anything. Stealing is not only when you go to rob a bank. The worse form
of armed robbery is when you steal the mandate of the people. ”
Governor Wike described Oshiomhole as a politician without character.
He noted that the APC National Chairman is always driven by survival
instincts.
He stated that Oshiomhole cannot lay claim to having canvassed for one
man, one vote because he is not practising the philosophy.
He noted that he stopped attending the National Economic Council because
Oshiomhole turned it into a forum to bash Former President Goodluck
Jonathan, when he had gone to praise Jonathan at Aso Villa for ensuring
credible elections.
“When Jonathan made sure the election was free and fair, Oshiomhole
came to the villa and thanked Jonathan. When Jonathan left office, one
of the reason why I don’t go to NEC meeting is because of Oshiomhole.
When he was a member. When Jonathan left, there was no day at the NEC
meeting Oshiomhole will not bring Jonathan down. Meanwhile, that was
the same man Oshiomhole went to praise for allowing one man one vote.
But when the man left, Oshiomhole changed. That is his character,” he
said.
Governor Wike said that Oshiomhole became Governor through questionable
means. He noted that the questionable emergence of Oshiomhole led to
constitutional amendment for Governorship Matters to terminate at the
Supreme Court.
He said: “Nigerians know one matter that led to the amendment of the
electoral act where Governorship election has to go to the Supreme Court
is because of the Oshiomhole matter . So he cannot come out and say he
was clean in terms of Electoral process. That will be very bad.
Oshiomhole said he fought godfatherism and the same time he wants to
install himself as a godfather in Edo state. Why is he fighting Obaseki
, because the man doesn’t take instruction from him. He preaches what
he doesn’t practice. ”
The Rivers State Governor maintained that Oshiomhole lacks the powers to
challenge the pronouncement of the Supreme Court.
Governor Wike said that Oshiomhole’s talk questioning his membership of
PDP is the unintelligent talk of an illiterate. Governor Wike declared
that he is a strong and unrepentant member of the PDP.
He said that he speaks out his mind at all times does not mean that his
membership of PDP is in doubt . Governor Wike said that he is not at
the same level with Oshiomhole. He noted that what Oshiomhole is doing
is to regain the confidence of APC Governors and leaders.
He said: “I will not be a member of their party, I have always been a
member of PDP and they know that. Oshiomhole knows that his party
does not even score up to 25 percent in my state. He cannot not tell me
that . There is a saying in my place. Somebody who has nothing to say
,he says see how you are. So Oshiomhole has nothing to say about me. And
I want to tell him that his party is probing him about the so called
hospital he says he built. I am not the one.
“So he should face his problems but Shame should be on him that at
the end of the day that the PDP Candidate has been sworn in as the
governor of Bayelsa state. You can’t come out and open your mouth and
say it will never happen . Now it has happened.
“If I were him I will resign, I will leave. I am not his friend , so
he cannot say my friend.
How can I be a friend to somebody who will say one thing today ,
tomorrow he says another thing. In the night he visits so so person,
that’s not me. When I want to see you, I see you in the day time.
Oshiomhole visits people at night. It is very very unfortunate for him
and I pity him. All his efforts to regain his chairmanship has failed.
“All he is doing today is because the governors and some leaders of the
party are saying that this man cannot lead our party. Oshiomhole has
failed.He is a man who opens his mouth anyhow. . And this should be his
last time, the moment he goes further then he will know that Rivers
state is not what he thinks it is.
We will tell him where he belongs. I will tell him where he goes in the
night, and where he goes in the day time.”
Governor Wike said the former unionist was very corrupt, as he used
proceeds from workers to build his political career.
He said: “Oshiomhole claimed he was a unionist. He said he worked in
the textile industry. Mention one man who works in the textile industry
and is as rich as Oshiomhole today. He used to wear ordinary Khaki,
today he wears Safari with diamond buttons. Simply because I said
Oshiomhole cannot destabilize this country, who the hell is Oshiomhole
to say that nobody can be sworn in when the Supreme Court court has
made a pronouncement whether good or bad. ”
On Oshiomhole’s parable that he (Oshiomhole) is an antelope, while
Governor Wike is a tortoise, the Rivers State Governor stated that his
pedigree and education are beyond the embattled APC National Chairman.
He said: ”
“It’s unfortunate that Oshiomhole will use that word to say a tortoise
challenging an Antelope. Its like saying in a country where Chimpanzee
can be anything. How can Oshiomhole compare himself to me. I’m well
read. I am lawyer. I am a life bencher. I have my first degree in
Political Science and my second degree in Law and I went to the Nigerian
law school and I passed very well, Let Oshiomhole tell me which
University he attended. As a unionist, he enriched himself. How did he
become the Governor of Edo State, who doesn’t know? It’s just the
country that we are in people who cannot boast of any certificate can be
National Chairman. Let Oshiomhole tell me one University he attended. I
attended the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University and
served in old Gongola State.
“How dare he open his mouth and called himself an Antelope. Oshiomhole
has become an Antelope because he is the National Chairman of a ruling
party, Its now a ruling party because they told Nigerian lies. Let
Oshiomhole come out and tell us his background except that he became a
Governor through a dubious way and that was what led to the amendment of
the electoral act that says Governorship matter in terms of the election
will not end at the Court of Appeal but will get to the Supreme court. I
have become a Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff, a Minister and
a Governor and by the Grace of God a second time serving Governor.
“Oshiomhole has the audacity to say nobody will be sworn in In Bayelsa
state causing crisis in the country and nobody wants to call him to
order but for people like us in Rivers State . Because of people like
Oshiomhole and his style of leadership, his party lost so many areas
they ought not to have lost. What made them not to have candidates in
Rivers State and Zamfara, its because of Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole led to
the problem they have in Bayelsa. Oshiomhole take from two sides. He is
not a man of integrity and nobody should take him seriously.”
Governor Wike added: “It is not my position to say it is right or wrong
but Oshiomhole cannot open his wide mouth to say it cannot never happen
and now it has happened what will he do? Don’t destabilize the country.
Don’t cause crisis for this country. You may be closer to the President
and that is not the way to retain your position as Chairman of the party
because Oshiomhole doesn’t have the support of most of the Governors
because of his style of leadership and it is very clear so Oshiomhole
doesn’t have the right to tell me that I am a man of violence.
Oshiomhole came from the background of an armed robber to steal the vote
of Rivers people and we defended our vote and Oshiomhole is ashamed that
we defended our vote and we still defend our vote till tomorrow. Rivers
State is not like his State Edo where he can talk to anybody the way he
likes. This should be the last time, Oshiomhole should open his mouth
and talk to anybody in Rivers State, we are not at the same level in
terms of Education. Rivers State is not like Edo state where you bring
down a sitting Governor because he wants to install another Governor.it
depends on the people of Edo State to allow that , but for Rivers State
we not allow anybody who wants to be a godfather.”
