Imagine someone sliding a “little something” across the table — not a brown envelope, not even a Ghana-Must-Go bag, but billions. That’s what Major-General Jamil Sarham, former GOC of the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army, says Governor Nyesom Wike offered him back in 2019. Billions — plural. Enough zeroes to make your calculator sweat.
But here’s the twist: no receipts, no screenshots, no bank alerts. Just a he-said, he-said war of words that left Nigerians wondering who was really telling the truth.
The Claim (Sarham’s mic drop):
Sarham didn’t mince words. He said Wike’s “resentment” toward him came from one thing:
“My choice of professionalism and integrity over the billions of naira offered me by the governor to compromise the 2019 elections.”
Translation? “Oga tried to buy me, but I no gree.”
And just like that, the room went silent. Because, honestly, “billions” is not small money — that’s national budget vibes. That’s “build a small Dubai in Port Harcourt” money.
Wike’s Clapback:
Wike didn’t even blink. He basically said: “Lie, lie, pants on fire.” According to him, Sarham’s story is one giant fabrication. No proof, no evidence, no point. His camp dared the General to show bank slips, voice notes, anything — otherwise, keep quiet.
Context (Why this blew up):
This wasn’t just random beef. Back then, Rivers State was a political boxing ring. Elections were hot, tensions high, and the army was caught in the middle. Wike accused soldiers of meddling; the army accused politicians of meddling right back. Add oil bunkering wahala and you’ve got a Nollywood script.
So when Sarham claimed “billions” were waved under his nose, it felt like the season finale of a political soap opera.
The Missing Ingredient:
Now, let’s be real: Nigerians love gist, but they love evidence even more. And till today, nobody has seen proof of this alleged money. No screenshots of text messages saying “sir, I’ve sent the ₦2bn”, no tellers, no leaked WhatsApp chats with the words “pls hide this alert.” Nothing.
Which means we’re stuck between:
Sarham’s “trust me, he tried to bribe me,” and Wike’s “trust me, I didn’t.”
It’s basically a Nigerian political version of he said / he said.
Why it Matters (beyond the drama):
If true, then a sitting governor tried to hijack democracy with a cheque book. If false, then a senior general tried to smear a governor with the juiciest allegation in the playbook.
Either way, the stakes were sky-high. And ordinary Nigerians? We’re left like: “So who go dey tell us the real gist?”
Punchline (SNC take):
At SNC, we don’t just chase the smoke; we ask where the firewood is. Sarham’s allegation is big, loud, and dramatic. But without receipts, it’s like ordering suya without pepper — interesting, but incomplete.
Until someone produces an alert, affidavit, or even one leaked audio file, this story stays in that grey zone Nigerians know too well: political gist with premium entertainment value but zero closure.
So, was there really a briefcase of billions sliding across a Port Harcourt table? Or was it just another episode in Nigeria’s never-ending election drama? For now, we’ll call it what it is: a blockbuster allegation with no sequel.