The political battle for the soul of Rivers State took a sharper turn on Saturday as Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), openly declared that his political future would be destroyed if Governor Siminalayi Fubara secures a second term in office.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Okrika Local Government Area, Wike left no room for ambiguity, stating that a firm decision has already been taken regarding the 2027 governorship race in Rivers State.
“We have made a decision as far as Tinubu is concerned. The other one [Fubara] — no way. Because if we make another mistake, then we will go and bury ourselves politically. I will not allow myself to be buried. I will not allow that mistake again,” he said.
“So everybody should know we have made a decision.”
Wike’s comments signal a full return to open hostilities with his former political protégé, weeks after Fubara defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection appears to have shattered whatever remained of the fragile peace between both men.
The FCT minister accused the Rivers governor of violating the peace agreement that was reached before the lifting of the emergency rule in the state—an agreement that ultimately paved the way for Fubara’s return to office.
Earlier in the week, Wike vowed that what he described as a “leadership mistake” in Rivers State would be corrected in 2027. He also promised to disclose the full details of the peace agreement that restored Fubara to power.
“We will not make the same mistake again at the state level in 2027, but we will talk about it later when the time comes,” Wike said, adding that leadership should reflect the will of the people rather than personal ambition.
‘Supporting Tinubu Won’t Save Fubara’
Wike reinforced his position on Friday while addressing stakeholders in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, insisting that Governor Fubara’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not guarantee him a second term.
According to Wike, his own support for Tinubu predated Fubara’s defection to the APC and would not be used as a bargaining chip for the governor’s re-election.
“If you played well with the first one and succeeded, do you think you can succeed with the second one? There cannot be two markets in one day,” Wike said, in a veiled reference to the peace agreements signed with Fubara.
“So, whoever is assuring you that everything will be fine once you sign on your mandate [Tinubu’s political signature song], you are mistaken.
“All of us have decided to work for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There is no discussion about that.
“Of course, you know we won’t make the mistake we made last time. We are here to correct the mistake. We will do all we can to ensure that we give Tinubu all the total support that is required.
“Someone [Fubara] who cannot relate with the local government chairmen, state assembly members, and national assembly members. What kind of leadership do you want to provide?”
Wike also reacted to Fubara’s New Year message in which the governor dismissed his comments as mere “noise.” In response, the former Rivers governor insisted that Fubara owed his political rise to him, claiming he made him governor despite his lack of popularity at the grassroots.
With these latest statements, it is clear that the Rivers political crisis is far from over, and as 2027 approaches, the power struggle between Wike and Fubara is set to dominate the state’s political landscape.
0 Comments