Wike made my appointment as oil minister possible — Lokpobiri

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has credited his appointment in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Lokpobiri made this revelation during an event organized by the Ijaw Peoples Congress in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday.

Speaking at the event, Lokpobiri, a former Senator and Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development between 2015 and 2019, expressed gratitude to Wike, stressing that his journey to becoming a minister in Tinubu’s administration began at Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt and was concluded at Wike’s home in Abuja.

“It is important to tell you, my brothers and sisters, that me, standing before you today as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, was also made possible by Nyesom Wike. You also heard the account of the MD of the NDDC, who said that the Minister of the FCT played a direct role in his appointment,” Lokpobiri said.

“My own case could have been a more direct role. Some of you may not know. It all started in Wike’s house in Port Harcourt, and it all concluded in his house in Abuja. My second journey of becoming a minister started at the minister’s house in Port Harcourt, and it concluded in his house in Abuja. It is important for me to complete this history.”

Lokpobiri noted that while his name was not mentioned among the list of people who had benefited from Wike’s influence in the event’s welcome address, he felt it necessary to acknowledge Wike’s pivotal role in his appointment.

“Because when I was looking at the welcome address, our names were not included among those who have benefitted from his benevolence. I thought that my name, Heineken Lokpobiri, would have been included amongst those that he has helped. But since my name is not included, I have to complete it. I want you, Ijaw people, to know that we have a brother and a friend,” he added.

He further praised Wike, stating, “It is always better to have a good friend than to have a bad brother. Of what use is a bad brother? It is of no use. But if you have a good friend, such as the FCT minister, you are already blessed.”

Lokpobiri also expressed the gratitude of the Ijaw people to Wike, saying, “Your Excellency, the FCT minister, let me, on behalf of the Ijaw people all over the world, express our gratitude to you for your show of love to Ijaw people.

“We Ijaw people are very grateful people. If you do us good, we will not pay you back with evil. So, we will always be grateful to you for what you have done for our Ijaw people. We are looking forward to you doing more for our Ijaw people.”