Nysome Wike: FCT Political Warthog ?

Dr. Jarlath Uche Opara
Jarlathuche@gmail.com

There are people who are created and designed in a way and manner that make it a bit difficult to understand them in one fell swoop. Their complexities so intricate one cannot but like the bitter -sweet taste their lifestyle gives.

So many sides to their lives, at one breath it shines and glints and in another breath it glooms and darkens with a bad taste that would possibly ignate nausea.

As the Governor of River State at a time for eight years, he was outstanding, creating a niche for himself as Mr project.

He fought like a wounded lion, fiercely confronting the Federal might in its strategy and gimmicks to make his administration chaotic. He showed resilience in leadership. Vision in purpose, shrewd in being politically correct and wise in choosing his fight.

He was so street wise politically, building structures, recruiting loyalists and making his influence around his political friends and family one that should be respected, honoured and treated with utmost sense of reverence.

He was ingeniously intentional about it, resources were not spared. Did he succed building such an army of political tribe, where his name echoes with awe and his words and wishes undeniably sacrosanct?

I have followed his journey politically, I have analysed many of his moves on the political chess board, though not all his moves caught my fancy morally and ethnically. Looking at them from the lenses of what politics is ( permanent interest, no permanent enemies or friends) I would without prejudice say that Wike is the new political Warthog in town who dances around his enemies with an air of confidence that is driven from his confidence in his natural speed and swiftness.

I may not align with him on his disposition, action and inaction in the present political crisis in River State, however as a mainstream political czar who would at all times wants to remain relevant politically, his natural instinct to fight with desperation to save the soul of his political life, structure and network remains his drive.

Such a mood gives one the desperation to fight dirty, fight without missing, having known the implications of hitting and missing the targeted object. Anyways, Rivers’ political crises as heated and raging as it seems, calmness and decorum would one day be the gold on the platter.

Wike as the Minister of FCT is an ace in the hole, the pieces that give the puzzle its meaning, a solution to the puzzle of infrastructural development deficit in FCT.

One may not be a fan of Wike, however deep the hatred is, one thing remains undoubtedly factual, the overwhelming acknowledgement both by his haters and his lovers that indeed he is working.

His Mr project insignia didn’t stop in Rivers, his flakes and the blows of his project whirlwind is gradually reshaping the long abandoned areas in FCT. The speed at which he is moving, excavating and building roads is nothing less than “Warthogish”.

Abuja is by day experiencing changes through road constructions, opening up areas for development.

Recently the flag off of the road connecting Herbert Macaulay Way to Julius Berger Roundabout and straddles Life Camp Junction in Gwarinpa1 District, up to Ring Road 3 in Iddo Gwari District was very commendable. According to the Executive Secretary FCDA, Shehu Hadi Ahmad, the road is expected to bring succour and catalyse economic activities for residents of Old Keffi Road, Kado, Karimu, Gwarinpa, Dape, Iddo -Gwari as well as Saburi and Dei-dei.

life camp- dedei road construction is timely, strategic and economically viable, setting those axis ( Karmo, Dape, Iddo Gwari etc) on the stage of possible development explosion.

To many, this is the time FCT is blessed with a Minister that knows its onus outside El-Rufi. Every other Minister of FCT though may have tried their best, their best however seemed not good enough to have given FCT the positive infrastructural development that the residents yearn like deer for a running water, with the speed of a Warthog.

If other Ministers were as purposeful, diligent and workaholic like Wike the Warthog, Nigeria would have been that country we all desired and dreamnt of.

Every cloud has a silver lining, Wike is that cloud that has a silver lining. Nobody is all round good. We may be forced to overlook his too much bragadacio mien and penchant to dominate, soaring like an eagle in turbulence and relishing it like a candy, once the residents of FCT are assured of getting the best from him both in constructions of road, provision of security and cushioning of high cost of living, scorching too hard, burning off ones skin with the pains and discomforts never experienced before, Wike can be the Warthog, daring everyone, dancing confidently before danger unperturbed, relying on his high horse 17VC Turbo power engine to zoom off and engage in a reserve with same neck breaking speed, they may not care much.

It is only a Warthog- Wike can do what he did and still doing in his party without being cut to size. Who dares the Warthog? Dare him!

Wike is like a smart kid who is always coming first in class but has a lifestyle of rascality and stubbornness. Though rascally, his good report card, endears him to many.

Even if decides to be corrupt by putting his hands in the till, nobody will accuse him, for his report card shows excellent performance.