In a revealing and emotionally charged speech, Nyesom Wike,
the former governor of Rivers State,
disclosed shocking incidents from his
tenure that included an assassination attempt and a series of personal
tragedies. Speaking during a thanksgiving service at a church on a Sunday, Wike
expressed gratitude for surviving these harrowing ordeals.
Reflecting on his time in office, Wike acknowledged the
turbulent nature of his rise to power. He shared three instances that
emphasized the need to thank God for his survival. The former governor lamented
the fact that, as a governor, people often assumed that everything was going
well for him without bothering to inquire about his well-being. He recounted
two specific incidents that shed light on the severity of the challenges he
faced.
Wike vividly recalled a distressing day in December 2018 when
he was scheduled to attend a Thanksgiving ceremony organized by his former
Chief of Staff. However, he was unable to leave his room that day due to his
deteriorating health. Similarly, during the State Banquet on January 1st, 2019,
Wike remained silent and delegated his deputy to speak on his behalf, leaving
attendees unaware of his condition.
Following the banquet, at midnight, Wike was discreetly flown
out of the country as his health continued to decline. Upon reaching Beirut,
doctors conducted numerous tests, only to deliver devastating news the next
morning. They informed him that his kidney and liver were no longer
functioning, revealing that he had been poisoned. Wike suspected that the
poisoning occurred at the campaign secretariat. Despite the grim prognosis,
Wike expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
Recalling the incident further, Wike revealed that his
intestines had turned black due to the poisoning, and doctors exhausted all
available treatment options. However, to his relief, his condition began to
improve after about a week. With gratitude in his heart, he returned to
Nigeria, wary of staying at anyone’s house as he couldn’t pinpoint the source
of the poisoning. Suspicion cast a wide net, leaving him uncertain of who could
have been involved.
Wike’s personal struggles did not end there. During his
presidential primaries, he received devastating news from his wife, who was in
London at the time. She informed him that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
Distraught and contemplating withdrawing from the race, Wike sought advice from
his supporters, ultimately deciding to continue despite the hardships.
On the night of the primaries, as Wike and his wife traveled
to Abuja, they received another blow—a fire had engulfed his wife’s room.
Despite their efforts to summon the fire service, the room was left in ruins.
Wike chose to keep the incident a secret, adding to the mounting burden he
carried.
Highlighting the lack of awareness surrounding his personal
struggles, Wike expressed frustration with people who simply expected him to
give without considering his own well-being. He emphasized the potential impact
on his family, mentioning the effect his illness or any tragic events could
have on his children.
The former governor recounted yet another terrifying incident
that occurred after the primaries. When his wife and daughter flew into Lagos,
their plane experienced a serious engine malfunction shortly after takeoff. The
panicked air hostess relayed the alarming news, prompting Wike to rush to the
cockpit, only to find it locked. Communication with the pilot was impossible.
They were forced to turn back, and as they approached landing, the sight of
numerous ambulances and fire service trucks lined up illustrated the severity
of the situation. By the grace of God, they landed safely, leaving Wike
grateful for his miraculous escape from disaster.
Wike concluded his speech by acknowledging that although
people saw him as a strong leader, part of his role was to shield his supporters
from unnecessary fear. His remarkable survival and resilience throughout these
trying times underscored the importance of his faith and gratitude for God’s
protection.
