By Fred Iwenjora

The current Minister of Federal Capital Territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Barrister Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike, has been a news maker.

Many agree that it has been a meteoric rise for the ‘Port Harcourt Boy’ because in a period of just a few years, Wike had been LGA Chairman of Obio Akpor, thereafter leaping forward to become Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s Chief of staff, then succeeding him and the rest is history as they say.

Since becoming Nigeria’s minster of state for education and then governor of Rivers state and now minister of FCT, Wike has left no one in doubt that he is a controversial, brave, fearless, blunt, loquacious, no holds barred person who neither buckles nor holds nothing back when it comes to expressing himself.

In this brazen expression of himself, he has exhibited deep knowledge of and combination of sociology and theatrics, telling the people and acting out what they love to hear and see. Theorists would readily agree that these are basic tools of winning in politics, a well known game of numbers.  

It is correct to say without doubt that there is every indication that God has been with Wike, allowing him to do ‘as he likes’ as Nigerians would say, yet being successful at achieving his goals after all.

The world has seen Wike roar like the lion, curse and fight, sing and dance with hysterics that simply entertain. Hailing him as Mr. Project Governor brought out more action from him.

Not a few people acclaim that Wike is an action man who performed well during his eight-year-reign of many flyovers, roads and other numerous infrastructure in Rivers state.

Instances abound of how he ruled Rivers state with an iron fist. He made sure he was the only captain in his ship. No other captain dared blink an eye. For eight years, those who tried to blink were despatched to Siberia.

However interestingly, his vociferous critics are yet to figure out how he managed to have lured and ensnared four other fellow PDP governors, some of whom have become moribund politically after joining the jamboree he christened G5. More are also wondering how Wike, a strong PDP ex-governor plotted the coup that gave him a front seat in an APC government.

Without his party’s permission? And no one is talking? A first in history all might say.

As he makes front page news on a daily basis as Minister of the FCT, there is no doubt that the name Wike has become synonymous with controversy with the world divided as to love him or hate him. Newsmakers are like that.

And as this controversy rages over his character, actions and inactions, utterances and demeanor on his new job,  FRED IWENJORA met with Wike’s primary school mate, Hon Augustina Anosike Ojide, who instantly captured their their days in school and concluded that Wike has not changed from what he was in their school days.

She gave out some characteristics of Wike during their primary school days, adding that those who knew him then would understand that controversies were part of him.

According to her, Wike, from childhood, “has been a very dramatic person and could not behave differently now.”

My name is Hon Augustina Anosike Ojide. I am a farmer, transporter and politician. I am currently a member of PDP under which I had contested to represent my people at both the House of Assembly and Reps. Despite failing in my quest I still remain a loyal PDP member. But that is not what I am here to talk about.

I get worried whenever Nyesom Wike is in the news and some people are criticising him for whatever he has done or not done. Please forgive Wike or leave him alone because he has always been a dramatic person who is always acting from his childhood days. I have known Nyesom Wike since we were in primary school.

We have not set eyes upon each other ever since late 70s and early 80s. We attended Orominike Primary school D Line Port Harcourt and I lived with my parents at No 4 Adelabu street, very close to Mile 2, Diobu. I know he must not have forgotten Augustina Anosike which is my maiden name.

Each time Wike is in the news, I laugh and often I want to come to his defence. It is because I have known him as a kid and know that he won’t be different from his childhood. He is the son of a pastor who owned a church and was very jovial and would readily sing and dance at the clap of the hands. He was tough and would readily pick up a fight. I mean he ‘open eye’ very well like we say in pigin English in Nigeria.

We always missed him whenever he was not in school. Fellow pupils would always gather around him. Some times when we were returning from school, Wike would start to dance to the Ikwerre music blaring from the records store and make all of us to laugh. He was stubborn so to speak but very caring and generous. He had an open mind and would bring biscuits and other goodies from home for us to share and while we were sharing, a quarrel may spring up and he would curse and yab every one.

At the time I am talking about, Zamani Lekwot was Military Governor and Tam David West was Commissioner for Education. Wike is a gra gra man who would yab and still laugh with his victim and go on with his life. He would still share whatever he had with the person he had yabbed.

We called him Drama Prince.

We would all join efforts to “yab” him very well because he had a sharp tongue. That boy Nyesom get mouth eehh. But as a child, he was too playful. Sometimes we would yab him that his father had a church without a branch.

Whenever I see him singing “Enye ndi eba enye ndi eba” I scream. Nyesom no go ever change Chai.

Leader of school band

Nyesom Wike was a member of our school’s marching band and was popular in our school that everyone knew him. He led the band every morning during march past, flinging the Major which he so mastered how to use.

You know that piece of stick which the front man in the band waves around? He was a specialist in it while we sang “Show me the way to go to Rivers state…I want to greet my governor..Lekwot”. We also sang “Orominike borrow borrow…” Memories. I feel so emotional right now.

Some of the songs we heard in those days were Ikwerre songs blaring from the records stores to which Nyesom would dance to on the road and we would be clapping; songs like “Baby Efulamu oo Baby Efulamu oo”.

I never believed that one of our classmates would one day become governor and now minister. God is great. I know all our classmates and teachers are happy for him. I left Port Harcourt not long after our primary school and have never set my eyes physically again on him except on television and I feel so happy that I know that action man.

I feel happy for his performance as Rivers state governor and congratulate him for his being appointed Minister of the FCT and I know he will do well in any assignment given to him. He started doing well in primary school. I know him and I know he should remember Augustina Anosike, that’s me.

Plea…

Nigerians who criticise Wike for his many controversies should please let Wike be. It is his gift from God to dramatise everything and to go for what he wants.

They should please forgive Wike because it has always been his character to be dramatic. What would you expect from someone who would readily fling his school bag away and dance in the market place as a child?

Regrets

One of my biggest regrets is not ever seeing him since we left primary school.

He was in Enugu a few months ago for a political meeting and I got closer to seeing him.

The police security stopped me. I told them Wike is my primary school mate but they did not listen.