Dino Melaye, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for governor in Kogi State, has revealed what former first lady Patience Jonathan did to support Nyesom Wike’s election as governor of River State.
The former Rivers State governors Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Odili were also mentioned as having supported Wike’s political aspirations.
Melaye claimed in an interview that Jonathan used her resources—including money and connections—to help Wike win the governorship.
The former legislator also asserted that Amaechi appointed Odili as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff while Odili assisted the Rivers Governor in assuming the position of chairman of his local government.
He said this while criticizing Wike for constantly boasting about the individuals he had assisted in the past while ignoring the fact that other people had contributed to his development as the person he is today.
According to Melaye, “Governor Odili made him chairman of his local government. So he has been helped by somebody. After Governor Odili helped him, Governor Amaechi made him chief of staff. Governor Amaechi helped him. Governor Amaechi nominated him to be a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Governor Amaechi helped him. Mrs Goodluck Jonathan spent her money, her connection and everything to make him the Governor of Rivers State.
“So everyone gets helped by one person or the other. But you don’t help people with the intention to enslave them, to control them and run their life and decisions. Once you give assistance to somebody, then you should allow the person to exist, but Wike once he assists you and you don’t do his bidding and you try to say I have an idea or decision, he would go all out and advertise you and announce what he has done for you.”
