Nigerians are on Monday, March 13, 2023 waiting for the response of Governor Nyesom Wike after he on Sunday came under attack from Atiku Abubakar as an alcoholic who would abandon his daytime work to frolic in alcohol.
Atiku had on Sunday evening advised Wike to stop speaking while he is under the influence of alcohol.
Wike had while addressing supporters at the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday stated that he was drinking a 40-year-old whiskey while he was watching members of his own party on TV protesting against electoral fraud of February 25 in Abuja.
“As they were protesting, I just sat down and took a 40-year whisky. I called some of my friends and opened the 40-year-old whisky as they were protesting,” Wike had said.
Replying to the assertion, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank advised Wike to stay off alcohol as it had not only affected his voice and demeanour but also his thinking faculty.
“Governor Wike has confirmed what we all know. That he is a drunkard. The protest that was led by Waziri Atiku Abubakar on Monday, March 6, 2023, was against the stealing of the mandate of the Nigerian people, which in itself was a noble cause.
“For the sake of clarity, the protest occurred around 11.30am. Governor Wike says he was drinking whisky during the protest at 11.30am on a Monday. This reveals the sort of man he is – a dipsomaniac who abandons his official duties on Monday morning to binge on whisky.
“This explains the reason for his hoarse voice, which is similar to that of a motor park tout. It is obvious that Governor Wike also dances under the influence of alcohol. No wonder it is characterised by aesthetic vulgarity.
“It is a common rule that you do not drink and drive. Unfortunately, a drunkard is the one steering the wheel of governance in Rivers State. This is more disturbing because he is married to a judge. Indeed, the term, as sober as a judge, could not even rub off positively on the cantankerous governor,” the Atiku aide said in the attack on Wike over alleged use of alcohol.
Given Wike’s sensitivity to such issues, it is expected that the governor would very soon respond in a blistering if he has a commissioning or inauguration ceremony today.
Two years ago Rotimi Amaechi said on national television that he does not drink alcohol, Governor Wike took it as a snide attack on him.
Almost exactly two years ago, Amaechi had on March 10, 2021 while speaking during an interview on Kaakaki, the AIT morning show had said that he does not take decisions under the influence of alcohol.
Later that afternoon, Wike descended on Amaechi, during the commissioning of the Omuihuechi-Omuoko-Omokiri link Road in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Wike went personal on Amaechi describing him as a failed student who had read law over 16 years in two continents and described the minister as posturing falsely as an incorruptible person.
Wike said that day: “This morning I was watching Kaakaki and I hear somebody that is a minister was talking and he said he does not drink. Who told you to drink? If the way you are behaving and you drink…
“People should allow sleeping dogs to lie. If you don’t allow sleeping dogs to lie, we will tell you where you come from.
“I have never done law for 16 years. I am not like those who are reading law for 16 years from London to Baze University.
“I felt that I should come to his local government and tell him that if he doesn’t keep quiet. I am just doing introduction, I have not said anything, if he talks, I talk.”
“You don’t drink alcohol, but you take Holy Communion, is there no alcohol inside. You don’t drink alcohol but you drink 10 cans of Power Horse, which one is more dangerous?”
Given how Wike responded to what he believed as a subtle attack on him over alcohol, Nigerians could well anticipate a bomb very soon over the attack from Atiku.
