Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers state, has been cleared to become a minister in the Tinubu administration.
Wike was nominated alongside twenty-seven others and submitted to the Senate for confirmation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last Thursday.
The former governor, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the President won’t regret appointing him as a minister.
Wike told the Senators that during his time as governor of the oil-rich Niger Delta state from May 2015 to May 2023, he started and completed many projects to improve the infrastructure of the state and that he invited politicians across party lines to commission them.
“These things can be achieved if you are committed if you have passion for the job,” Wike told the lawmakers.
He said there are many former governors who desire to be a minister but who don’t have passion the to serve Nigerians.
“There are so many people who want to be ministers for the sake that ‘I was a governor’, for the sake that ‘I was a minister’ but there are those who say, ‘Look, what do I have to offer? Am I committed to this job?’
“I thank Mr President for nominating me. I believe, knowing how hungry Mr President is to solve the problems of Nigeria, we have no choice but to give him that required support. And I can assure you, if I am confirmed in whatever capacity, Mr President will not regret nominating me,” Wike said.
After Wike’s introductory statement, one of the three Senators from Rivers said the nominee is their role model and leader in the state.
“He is our role model and leader, all of us the three Senators and the over 5 million Rivers people support his nomination”, he said.
He said Wike should be allowed to take a bow and go.
Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President said Wike is competent and has the capacity to deliver in office.
He asked him to take a bow as the red chamber cleared him for a ministerial role in the Tinubu government.
