The Cause Of Akpabio And Wike’s Secret Fight Revealed
The Cause Of Akpabio And Wike’s Secret Fight Revealed
Two political allies and South-south political leaders, Godswill Akpabio and Nyesom Wike are currently at odd with each other, signifying cold war.
Nyesom Wike, the current minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Nigeria’s Senate have had their relationship strained due to Wike’s belief that Godswill Akpabio sabotaged him; failed to defend his interest.
According to a source who is privy to the development, Nyesom Wike is angry with Akpabio for his stance on the six month administration of vice admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas in Rivers state. He (Wike) has not confronted Akpabio directly but has through his proxies especially lawmakers from Rivers state who are loyal to him, shown to the senate president his indifference. Senate president Akpabio who is not oblivious of the cause of his fall out with Nyesom Wike, did not seek to mend things with him because of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Despite their public display of affection and solidarity, Nyesom Wike and Godswill Akpabio surreptitiously perceive each other as rivals, determine to win the heart of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the most reliable and one capable of influencing the south-south region. Hence, beneath their recent fall out is the battle for supremacy – who becomes the president’s favourite in the south-south region.
The source narrated that the relationship between Godswill Akpabio and Nyesom Wike went sour when Akpabio who was allegedly acting under the influence of the presidency, sought to investigate the administration of vice admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas in Rivers state in response to allegations in the public domain of Ibas alleged unaccounted expenditure and lack of transparency while he served as Rivers sole administrator.
See also How Nyesom Wike And Akpabio Are In Cold War, Don’t Talk To Each Other
Recall that the Nigeria’s senate as well as House of Representatives deliberated on investigating Ibas in response to allegation of his misappropriation of N283.3 billion federal allocations to Rivers state while he presided over the state across six months.
The response of the senate to public calls for Ibas to be investigated over the alleged misappropriated funds, was inherently perceived by Wike and his allies as a direct confrontation at him and his political interest in Rivers state. He had expected that Akpabio would disregard the calls but instead, he validated it by assuring the public that the national assembly will act accordingly.
“Wike believes that Akpabio should have disregarded such allegation against Ibas. It was Wike who recommended Ibas to president Tinubu and he expected Akpabio to have protected him.
Though what Wike did not know is that Akpabio at that time was being influenced by the presidency who at that point was surprised at the level of lack of transparency under the sole administrator”, the source said
While this secret fight has lingered for several months now, neither Akpabio nor Wike wants to make a move for reconciliation. They believe that reconciliation at this point is seemingly unnecessary especially as Akpabio believes that Nyesom Wike is growing unpopular among the president Tinubu’s cabinet.
Credit / Reliant News
