NEWS
I was almost assassinated at the PDP secretariat — Nyesom Wike
The former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, opened up about a harrowing incident in 2018 when he was poisoned by unidentified individuals at his party’s secretariat.
Speaking at a family thanksgiving service held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom Deanery, in the Diocese of Niger Delta North on Sunday, June 18, Wike recounted the extraordinary tale of survival and resilience with the help of divine intervention.
Reflecting on the incident, Wike disclosed that after ingesting the poison, he experienced liver and kidney failure, which was diagnosed during his subsequent visit to a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. The poisoning incident occurred just before he was scheduled to attend the thanksgiving ceremony of his former Chief of Staff, Chief Emeka Woke, in December 2018. However, due to his deteriorating health, he was unable to attend.
Following the poisoning, Wike secluded himself in his room and experienced a significant decline in his condition. He recalled the State Banquet on January 1st, 2019, where he could not deliver a speech and instead requested his deputy governor to represent him.
The severity of his condition was concealed from the public, with many unaware of the underlying health issues he was facing. Shortly after the banquet, at midnight, he was flown out of the country, assuming the worst.
Upon arriving in Beirut, Wike underwent a series of tests and consultations with doctors. The reality of his condition became apparent as they informed him of the extent of the damage to his kidneys and liver. Disturbingly, it was revealed that the poisoning had occurred at his campaign secretariat, and his intestines had suffered significant damage.
Despite the grim prognosis, Wike expressed gratitude for the intervention of divine providence, which miraculously initiated the restoration of his failing organs.
Recalling another personal trial, Wike revealed that leading up to the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign, his wife, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, informed him from London that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
The news left him devastated, and he even contemplated withdrawing from the presidential race. However, his wife’s unwavering support and encouragement persuaded him to continue pursuing his political ambitions.
“From that Sunday, I never came down from my room. It was bad, but those who attended the January 1st, State Banquet of 2019, will know that I never spoke that day. I just sat down there and I told my deputy governor to speak on my behalf. People didn’t know what was going on. After that banquet, by 12 midnight, I was taken out of the country because I thought it was over.
“When we got to Beirut, the doctors looked at me and I was looking at them. They were not telling me anything. They said we have to do many tests.They came back the next morning and said it was bad. My kidney had gone, My liver had gone.
“I never knew that I had been poisoned in our campaign secretariat. My intestinal were all black. The doctors did all they could do. But, through divine providence, what would have been a disastrous situation was miraculously turned around by God, who immediately began to restore his failed organs, ” Wike said
The former governor’s disclosure of these deeply personal struggles during the family thanksgiving service served as a testament to his resilience and the strength he drew from his faith.
Wike’s survival from the poisoning incident and his wife’s battle with cancer exemplify their shared determination to overcome adversities, further cementing their resolve to forge ahead in the face of challenging circumstances.
As Wike continues to navigate the aftermath of these challenging experiences, his story serves as an inspiration to others, showcasing the power of faith and resilience in overcoming life’s most daunting obstacles.
