The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has rejected claims accusing him of betraying the Christian faith because of his political decisions during the just concluded 2023 presidential elections.
Wike reportedly issued a warning to those stoking rumors about his apparent loss of the Christian religion, saying that if they don't stop, he may feel pressured to name several individuals and politicians.
He claimed that because he has been so greatly blessed by God's kindness, nothing could ever convince him to abandon the church or the Christian faith.
Nigeria news Agency is aware of On Tuesday night at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt, Governor Wke made the submission during an interactive session with the management and important stakeholders of the Rivers State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Wike, who spoke in light of events surrounding the February 25 presidential elections, insisted that he was courageous in declaring Rivers to be a Christian state and that he owed no one an explanation.
The governor of Rivers State reportedly worked for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which ran Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima as a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
The governor declared: "I act in certain ways because I am one person who has really benefited from God's grace. So I laugh when people accuse me of betraying the Christian religion.
"Let no one in the Christian community accuse me of betraying the Christian religion because that would force me to out so many people and politicians," the speaker said.
However, Wike underlined that he did the right thing by backing the return of power to the south in the February 25 elections and that the integrity group's and the G5 Governors' belief in this matter is unwavering.
He believes it is false to say he opposed the Christian president.
The governor added that he established the Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt and that his administration has maintained a strong relationship with the church by waiving costs for any church applying to use a government facility.
I am a Southern Presidency apostle, he declared. I battled for it and stood up for it. I didn't flinch. I have never, and I won't until tomorrow, violated the interests of the South.
"When I want to fight, I won't hide from anyone who knows me. Let no one accuse me of failing to support the Christian presidency because I will not and have never betrayed the church or Christendom. That person must be wicked.
Reject Hopeless Politicians
Wike also encouraged the state's Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leadership and members to avoid politicians who could try to utilize them to win votes before abandoning them after the election.
The Governor stressed that CAN is not expected to engage in party politics.
"Nobody can say that through this election," he continued, "since I called him or her and told them to go to this location. No one may also assert that you came to me to learn about the church's decision before coming.
"At this time, municipal elections will be held instead of national ones. Why is it that people are going to start bringing CAN into it for the first time? The first has always been CAN Rivers State. You intend to approach one of the families and accuse them of endorsing the candidate, which is illegal because this state is a Christian state.
What I don't like, he said, is when politicians utilize the religion for their own gain. What transpires after that? Do you continue to hear the church?
"You don't take the church seriously. If Christians in politics would pay attention to the church, it would not be where and how it is now. The church would have become more powerful.
He urged the CAN leadership to pray for a peaceful election on Saturday that would result in a peaceful transfer of power when his term ends and to support Siminialayi Fubara, the PDP's candidate for governor.
His Grace, Most Reverend Dokiboeriya Kaladokubo, the chairman of CAN for Rivers State, responded by thanking Wike for his nice remarks during the conversation and mentioning the state's transformation initiatives under the governor's leadership.
In order to facilitate a peaceful process, Kaladokubo stated that the church and its leadership would continue to pray against any fighting or gunshots on Saturday during the election.
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