Alabo George-Kelly, a former Commissioner of Works in Rivers State, has said that if not for the support of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara would have remained a Level 14 civil servant in the state.
News About Nigeria reports that in an interview with Channels Television, George-Kelly, who served under both Wike and Fubara, pointed out the role of Wike in elevating Fubara from a civil servant to the highest office in the state.
He claimed that Fubara would have been limited to a Level 14 position within the Ministry of Finance if not for Wike’s intervention, which propelled him to various prestigious positions including Director of Finance and Administration (DFA), Permanent Secretary, Accountant-General, and eventually governor.
George-Kelly said it is important to acknowledge those who facilitated one’s rise to power, urging people to speak truth to power and recognise the contributions of others.
The rift between Fubara and Wike became evident less than six months after Fubara succeeded Wike as governor of Rivers State.
Efforts to reconcile the two political figures have failed, with tensions escalating to the point where a Rivers High Court restrained lawmakers loyal to Wike from acting as members of the state assembly.
Addressing a gathering in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Governor Wike acknowledged his mistake in supporting Fubara’s candidacy and vowed to correct it in due course.
The former Rivers State Governor acknowledged that he had made a mistake in his judgement of Fubara and asked the people of the Local Government Area (LGA) and his political family to forgive him.
He assured them that they would correct the mistake at the appropriate time, insisting that he would continue to make his detractors angry, causing them to make mistakes.
