When Herbert Wigwe Was Alive, I Called Him And Asked; ‘What Have You Done For Rivers State?’ – Wike

According to a report by Daily Post, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), revealed that during his time in Lagos, the late Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Bank, once reached out to encourage him to do something impactful for Rivers State. This revelation came as Wike addressed the origins of his political rift with suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. While discussing the fallout and tensions within the state’s political landscape, Wike also responded to recent comments made by Atedo Peterside. He criticized Peterside’s description of appointees as “riff-raffs,” calling the statement highly inappropriate and extreme.

Wike challenged the logic behind Peterside’s claim, questioning whether individuals with doctorate degrees who haven’t established a bank should be dismissed as irrelevant. He argued that the inability to build a financial institution doesn’t diminish a person’s intellect or value, adding that if those same individuals had set up a bank, they likely wouldn’t have been labeled as riff-raffs.

Wike accused Peterside of playing no meaningful role in the emergence of the current governor, stating that individuals like these were actually responsible for creating challenges for Fubara. He noted that during the efforts to support the young leader’s rise to power, Peterside, who hails from Opobo LGA, made no significant contribution.

He also condemned Peterside’s blanket condemnation of others, arguing that dismissing people as riff-raffs was unacceptable. For Wike, the true measure of leadership lies not in the title one holds but in the lasting and meaningful impact made on the people.

In Wike’s words, “When Wigwe was alive, I called him—look, you are in Lagos, and every day you fly down here. What have you done for Rivers State? At the level you are, what can you say you have contributed to the development of the state?”

“He looked at me and said he would return in two weeks time. He came back; he said that he had thought about it. He told me he was going to set up a world-class university.”