The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has publicly attributed his appointment in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet to the direct influence of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lokpobiri made the revelation during an event organized by the Ijaw Peoples Congress in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in honor of Wike.
Addressing the audience, Lokpobiri disclosed that his journey to becoming a minister began at Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt and concluded in Wike’s Abuja home. He emphasized that Wike played a pivotal role in securing his position within the federal administration.
“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 made possible by Nyesom Wike,” Lokpobiri stated.
He added, “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.”
The former Senator from Bayelsa, who previously served as the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development between 2015 and 2019, also highlighted the significant contributions Wike has made to the Ijaw community and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Ijaw people.
“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. If you do us good, we will not pay you back with evil,” Lokpobiri remarked.
He concluded by praising Wike’s friendship, stating, “It is always better to have a good friend than to have a bad brother. Of what use is a bad brother? But if you have a good friend, such as the FCT minister, you are already blessed.”
The event also featured the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who similarly credited Wike for playing a key role in his appointment, further highlighting the influence Wike holds in national politics.