President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday said the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, learnt the art of performance from him, recalling that the former Rivers State governor was inspired by projects executed during his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio made the remark while representing President Bola Tinubu at the commissioning of access roads to the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates in the Karsana West District of the FCT as part of activities marking the President’s third year in office.
According to him, Wike visited Akwa Ibom while serving as a minister and was impressed by the infrastructure projects, particularly the state’s drainage system, promising at the time to deliver similar results if given the opportunity to lead Rivers State.
“The once-performing governor of Rivers State who learnt from me visited my state when I was governor and he was a minister.
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He entered the underground drainage system and came out with a handkerchief in his hand, saying, ‘What is this?’”
“He said, ‘If I ever have the opportunity to be in Rivers State, I will perform miracles.’ God gave you the opportunity, and you performed excellently well,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President revealed that Wike’s pace of development in Rivers State once made him jokingly caution the minister against surpassing his achievements.
“In fact, I got so worried at a time that I came to you and pleaded with you to become governor and not to surpass what I did. I told you to take it easy.
If Jesus Christ had done all the work for God, there would be no need for the Pope. Another governor would come, so don’t do everything just because you saw me working so hard,” he said.
Akpabio added that Wike’s dedication to infrastructure development has now become a defining trait.
“But now it has become your DNA. Wherever you go, you show your hand, and God will bless you,” he stated.
The commissioning of the road project formed part of activities commemorating President Tinubu’s third anniversary in office, with senior government officials, political leaders and stakeholders in attendance.