Nyesom Wike Biography
Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is currently serving as the governor of Rivers State. He has experienced a successful career as he even won a second term as governor of Rivers state.
He has also served as an Obio Akpor Local Government Area Executive Chairman for two terms from 1999 to 2007.
He is a firm member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In the Commonwealth Local Governments Forum, he served as an African representative.
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Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike was born on the 13th of December, 1963, and is 59 years old. He is from the Ikwerre tribe of Rivers State. He is a Christian by religion.
He is very famous in Rivers State as he can be seen as a headstrong and fearless person as seen in his actions during the covid-19 phase in 2020 when he destroyed hotels that broke the covid laws.
Early Life/ Education
Nyesom Wike was born to Revered and Mrs. Nlemanya Wike in Rumuepirikom, Obio-Akpor, Rivers State with his siblings. He is from the Ikwerre tribe in Rivers State.
His primary school is not known but his secondary school education was at Government Secondary School Eneka located in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State.
He wrote his o-level exams in his secondary school and he was successful, proceeding to the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUT).
At Rivers State University of Science and Technology, he got his Bachelor of Laws degree and his Master of Arts degree in Political and Administrative Studies.
He also went to Nigerian Law school in 1997.
Wike Family
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is happily married to his wife, Hon. Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike and they are blessed with three wonderful children, two females and one male. They are Jordan Wike, Joaquin Wike, and Jazmyne Wike.
Wike Career
Nyesom Wike started his legal career in a private legal enterprise before he decided to become a politician. His first entry into politics was as an Executive Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State in 1999.
He ruled for two terms after he was re-elected in 2003 and later ended his term in 2007.
He received distinguishment as one of the best performing chairpersons of the council. He also served as the deputy president and later the president of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in 2004.
He was also appointed as the Chief of staff at the Government House located in Port Harcourt after his tenure as the Executive Chairman ended.
His next move in politics was general manager of governor Amaechi’s campaign team for his re-election campaign.
READ ALOS: Ifeanyi Okowa Biography, Career, Source of Wealth, Corrupt Cases
After Governor Amaechi’s successful re-election, Nyesom Wike was appointed as the Minister of State for Education by then President Goodluck Ebere Jonathan in July 2011 and was promoted to the office of Federal Minister of Education in September 2013.
Despite his promotion, his ambitions were not satisfied as he later resigned from his post to run for Rivers State’s 2015 Gubernatorial election as the governor.
He won the People’s Democratic Party primary for the Rivers State gubernatorial election and with Ipalibo Banigo as his running mate he won the April 2015 gubernatorial elections and became the 6th Governor of Rivers State.
The celebration didn’t last long as his victory was contested by his rival, Dr. Dakuku Peterside from the All Progressives Congress (APC) who asked the Election Tribunal in Abuja to nullify the victory of Nyesom Wike on the basis that the election was filled with malpractice and not in compliance with the Electoral Act Commission.
The Election Tribunal of Rivers State Governorship declared the victory of Nyesom Wike to be null on the 24th of October 2015 and that a rerun should be held within 90 days after the nullification of the election.
He still emerged as the winner after he stated that he would challenge their decision. He succeeded former governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
On the 3rd of April, 2019, he won his re-election as Rivers State Governor earning him a second term in office.
During his oath-taking, he promised to put Rivers State first and has done so by declaring public primary and secondary schools to be free as part of his educational reform acts.
He also built three flyovers in Rumoukoro, Artillery, and Garrison which eased the flow of traffic in the state during his second term.
He revealed his ambitions when he announced his intentions to run for the office of President of Nigeria under the Peoples Democratic Party platform in March 2022.
His ambitions were cut short when he ultimately lost the party’s presidential primary election, with a vote count of 237, to presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar who gained victory with 371 votes.
Source of Wealth
Governor Nyesom Wike’s wealth is obtained from his early career as a lawyer but mostly during his successful political career where he rose from the Executive Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government to Governor of Rivers State for two terms.
His total net worth is estimated at $600 million.
Corrupt Allegations Against Wike
Nyesom Wike has been accused of electoral malpractice where his vote counts were greater than the number of accredited citizens with voter cards. Some sources say he used cult members to win elections but it has not been proven.
In February 2016, he was heavily accused of massive theft and diversion of resources from the Tetfund, the swindling of over N100 Billion from the Universal Basic Education Fund, and conversion and diversion of more than 20 Billion from the budget of the Ministry of Education in four years.
It was also revealed in an investigation that the Rumueprikom Internal Road Phase 1 & 2 construction contract had shady dealings involving Governor Nyesom Wike, Engr. E. Eshett of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rivers State Government, CICO INDUSTRIES LTD, RENNIER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (RCC), and the Bank Official who processed the transfer of funds.
The contract was first awarded to CICO on the 28th of June 2012 but was not completed despite being paid in full for the construction.
When Nyesom Wike became governor of Rivers State in 2015 the construction had not even started so he awarded the same contract to RENNIER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (RCC) and paid them even more than was paid to CICO.
The investigation later showed that the RCC was instead paid 2 Billion Naira less than was stated in the Rivers State Budget.
Conclusion
Governor Nyesom Wike has shown great vigor in leading Rivers State with his thug-like charisma. He sees himself as a worthy candidate and what the people of Nigeria need to escape from poverty and debt.
Not only is he charismatic, but he is also romantic as he kisses his wife passionately, openly demonstrating their love for each other. Though he did not become the Peoples Democratic Party flag bearer, that has not stopped him from enjoying life and continuing his duties as the Governor
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