Nyesome Wike’s acts of generosity and Adeyanju’s infantile ranting

Malik Sule

Those who observe the Minister of the FCT from afar tend to have mixed impression of him as either overbearing, uncouth politician who must always have his way at all times.

To others, he is a goal getter who is eternally loyal and faithful to whatever he believes in.

This can be seen in the level of fidelity that he has shown and committed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the start of this Fourth Republic.

Unlike many others who have in the past joined several other parties to advance their political interests, Wike has never left the party for a day for any selfish reasons.

Despite serving in the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government, he remains a member of the PDP and nothing will change that.

The minister is also known for seeking and fighting for justice and equity, this sense of justice prompted him to wage relentless war on injustice in the politics, leading to the founding of splinter group of like minds in PDP.

One thing that many people don’t really realize is that Wike is a humanist and philanthropist who is of the habit of helping and lifting people out of poverty and want.

Few examples of these will suffice, it is no news that one major motivation for Wike to be in government has always been service.

To Wike, any opportunity to be in government by any individual must and should be for service and upliftment of the society and for the common good of all.

When it comes to generosity and humanity in the Minister, it goes beyond his state or region. He displayed in several fora across the nation.

It’s on good record that Wike, during his term as governor expended over N2.1bn to some states across the country as assistance and donations.

On January 20, 2021, Wike pledged the sum of N500m to support his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, in rebuilding the Sokoto Central Market, which was gutted by fire compares to the N30m donated by Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, the neighboring state to the victims of the inferno

Wike said part of the N500m was meant to support the victims of the disaster, adding that his administration “will do all it takes to ensure that the affected market is reconstructed and becomes functional”.

The same year, he donated the sum of N600m when he performed the groundbreaking of the Akwa Ibom Teaching Hospital at Awa in the Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

However, on February 14, 2022, he donated N500m to the Bayelsa State Medical Science University in Yenagoa, the state capital, and three months later, donated N200 million to displaced victims of banditry in Kaduna and donated N300m to support the wives of Lagos State officials at a conference organised by the women in Lagos.

So how on earth, the vituperation and ranting of one controversial and inconsequential infantile individual diminished such a generous leader like Wike who has greatly affected humanity positively?

The empty cook and bull story by Deji Adeyanju is just like a pig fighting itself in a muddy water only by himself and has nothing to do with a compassionate towering personality like Wike who have touches many lives across the world.

Moreover, in terms of official performance, no one will found Wike wanting both at local, state and federal level.

His commitment to governance and delivery, has manifested significantly in the infrastructure turn around of Rivers State after his eight years stint as governor. it is a common knowledge that Rivers State which was hitherto known as one city, Port Harcourt only state became known as multi-city entity.

This is because Wike used the opportunity of his stay in government to not only connect all the books and crannies of the state to Port Harcourt, he also ensured that many other township begun to enjoy amenities that other cities enjoy.

Schools, hospitals, roads and sundry other facilities were provided to bring these former townships in tune with modernity.

On a personal level, Wike has continued to relate very well with all the people he had ever come across in his private, personal, professional and official lives.

To those close to him, he is of the habit of finding out from his immediate subordinates what their needs are and would make efforts to find solutions to such.

Wike will always ensure that they exercise their independence freely while performing all tasks assigned to each and everyone of them.

On personal level, Wike will always look out for friends and relatives and will make efforts to touch their lives. He publicly displayed such when he sighted a secondary school classmate and beckoned on him to come.

He hugged him, asked about his personal welfare and gave him a hefty amount of money.

During his stint as governor, Wike ensured that working conditions of local and federal government staff workers were enhanced through provision of new offices, working tools for them to enhance productivity.

It is also to his credit that he built and renovated offices of many state and federal government agencies in River State. Examples are bound, the building of Port Harcourt branch of Nigeria Law School.

Now as minister, his replicating such gesture, which is now being misconstrue by some mischievous elements. I am referring to the decision of the minister to build quarters for judges in Abuja.

For those who don’t know, it is a mere gesture on the part of Wike to enhance their welfare and well-being and nothing more as being misconstrued.

This shows in no unmistakable way, the personality make up of Wike as a humanist and philanthropist.

Malik Sule write this piece from Abuja.

This is an independent opinion by the writer and doesn’t represent in anyway the position of the newspaper regarding the topic espoused by the writer