As speculations heighten about his intention to contest the gubernatorial elections in Rivers State, the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared that no politician can defeat him if he decides to run.

Wike, spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt while addressing journalists on the political situation in the state.

He decried the clamour by some politicians and sections of the state that it was their turn to produce the next governor of the state asking him (Wike) not to run for the position.

Wike said: “There is one thing that people must understand; I read a lot of things where some people say, ‘it is our turn to produce the governor or whatever’. Assuming that what you are saying is correct, does that stop another person from coming out? What it means is that you should face the person at the elections. That is the important thing.

“Most of them who say the governorship seat is zoned to them, can they win in their local government area? I can tell you that if I declare today that I want to run, none of all those claiming that it is their turn would win me in their various wards. So, if you cannot win me in your ward, whose vote are you going to use to win me in the election?

“Let’s take, for example, the Ogonis, we have Tai, Eleme, Gokana and Khana- four local government areas. Those who want to run there under PDP, which of them can win me? Come to the riverine area; in Andoni, who wants to run there? I heard of a retired Major. Come to Opobo, who wants to run? Come to Bonny, who wants to run? Come to Akuku Toro; I read it on Sunday that Dagogo-Jack said he wants to run. There is also Walson-Jack, Lulu-Briggs. But which of them will beat me in their various wards, if I want to run?”

On what gives him the confidence that he would not be beaten in the elections, Wike said: “This is my game; I have been chairman (local government area) since 1999. There is no serious politician I don’t know in the various wards across the state.

“You know I headed the campaign committee of Governor Chibuike Amaechi in 2011. Is there any ward or any local government area that I cannot call the politician? In each of the wards, I am not even talking about the local government now, I know who matters; I know those that will decide what will happen. It is not by Internet postings; it is not for you to just post something in the Internet.

“As I tell you now, if I decide today that I want to run for election, check these local governments, why should everybody be depending on endorsement? You don’t want to go to your various wards and local governments to build the party and for the people to have confidence in you and then make you to win elections. Each time, you leave Port Harcourt and fly to Abuja, looking for endorsement. When you have been endorsed, who will make you to win the general elections?

“It is not by going to all the newspapers, to take adverts to say ‘it is our turn’. The issue is, how far have you gone to make Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strong for that their turn to be realised? At the appropriate time, we will see.”

He dismissed speculations that he had resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) because of his political ambitions and said those peddling the rumours were actually afraid of him.

His words: “Why should that bother you? Why is it that everybody is interested in this man, that he resigned or that he has done this or that? Who is planting all these stories? That tells you, that is the man everybody should watch; that tells you that is the man the other parties are afraid of. Some people will say, ‘please resign, please don’t resign’. But I have not resigned; I am still working.

“People should understand politics. I am still a minister; I have not been removed and I am still the Minister of State for Education. If you are a good politician, you should know what is going on. Assuming that he  I want to run, won’t I resign? Don’t worry; there are so many people in the FEC who want to run. At the appropriate time, they will also resign. So, I am not worried.”

He said he would not be intimidated by antics of politicians in the state.

“But what I am trying to let you know is that no amount of blackmail, no amount of intimidation, if I decide to do something, nobody can stop me from doing it. You know this is far from it. And I know where all this is coming from. You are aware that when the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that if PDP brings me, it will be better for them. Instead of them to thank God that He has buttered their bread, now it is a problem,” he said.