Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday shared his thoughts on the political crisis in Rivers State that led to the March 18, 2025 imposition of emergency rule on the state and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months.
Wike, the immediate past governor of the state and now estranged godfather of his suspended successor, said he actually wanted Fubara completely ousted as governor only for him (governor) to be saved by the suspension.
The minister also spoke on his distrust of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, his assessment of the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 polls and why he remains resolute in his support for President Bola Tinubu for the elections.
“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State,” Wike said in a televised interview.
“I wanted the outright removal of the governor. The President, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara.”
President Tinubu suspended Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and all members of the House of Assembly for six months, citing security reports.
The President appointed an administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) to run the affairs of the state during the emergency period.
Continuing, Wike said: “The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the President did this, I say they should be praising him.
“Every morning, they should go to the President and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”
The minister said he was not opposed to peace talks with Fubara and alleged that the governor’s advisers were the ones discouraging him from embracing peace.
You can’t bank on Atiku; he doesn’t honour his words
Wike, who is also locked in a running battle with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as a fall out of the 2022 presidential primary of the PDP, said his opposition to the former vice president was based on principle and not on account of Atiku’s refusal to pick him as running mate for the 2023 election.
His words: “I wanted power rotation. I could not have imagined that after eight years of Buhari, power goes to north again.
“It is not about whether you chose to field me or not, it’s about principle.
“To take that decision was difficult. A decision had to be taken and I looked at it, Atiku was not an option. So, he was a no go area.”
Wike denied suggestions that Atiku dropped him as his running mate.
“From day one, I told my delegates when they came that one thing you must know is that Atiku does not keep to his words.
“I can tell you authoritatively what happened. In 2019, Atiku, (Bukola) Saraki and (Uche) Secondus came to see me that I was going to nominate the attorney general and minister of petroleum.
“When we lost the election, the man who was supposed to bring the attorney general did not know when the legal team was constituted, and I laughed.
“I watched it on television, and I now called Saraki: you people have constituted a legal team, and you said I was going to bring the attorney general.
“I know from day one that Atiku would never keep to his word and I’ve never banked on that. I will not take his word to the bank.
“It was very clear that I made the right decision and you can’t see me now saying I will support him for president. How?”
PDP not ready for 2027
The FCT minister also assessed the chances of his party, PDP, ahead of the 2027 elections.
He did not see the party making any waves.
“The PDP is not ready for the 2027 election. It is very obvious,” he said.
“For instance, I have an examination and I am going to class to read. Indeed, am I reading? Am I studying? You don’t need to deceive anybody that you are reading. You are only trying to read so that people will see that you have carried your bag to class.”
On the recent statement by the PDP Governors Forum ruling out coalition with any party for the 2027 polls, Wike said: “They are not sincere to themselves; they are not also sincere to the party.
“On Tuesday, to be precise, I watched Politics Today on Channels TV where the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, was talking.
“And after watching that interview, I called Seyi Makinde who is my friend and I told him that he did not tell the truth as regards some issues.
“Fundamentally, you in 2023. One of the reasons why PDP lost was impunity. People who believed they have all it takes refused to respect the constitution of the party as regards power sharing. Now they are also making the same mistake by the impunity of the Governors Forum.
“That is the situation of the PDP. So, they cannot say for sure that they are ready for 2027. Power struggle cannot help the party.
“I am minister of FCT and I am not just any minister; they must understand that. There is nothing any governor can do that I cannot do. It is very obvious that PDP is not ready for the 2027 election. You do not need to like me. What I am saying, is it correct? All these power struggles cannot help us (PDP).
“If PDP does not put their house in order, I’m not going to support them in the Abuja Area councils election. If PDP goes the way they are going, I will not support them.
“This crisis will consume this party until the right thing is done. I have never recommended anybody to these governors but that does not mean that I don’t play any role.
He said: “I said it in 2023 and I’m saying it again that until 2031, when the position should go to the North, there is nothing anybody will say to me now.
“It’s not anti-party, it’s harmonious living together. You can’t tell me that it’s your own prerogative to be producing president; let’s all live.
“Whether APC liked it or not, it was very turbulent for Tinubu to have scaled through that (2023) election.
“You could see that he could have failed the election woefully. The fuel crisis, the naira issue was terrible.
“No party in government would at that time bring such a policy when you know you are running an election, but everything was done and he survived it.
“That’s how you will know that there are people that, first of all, God is on their side. They also know this game and you must give it to them.”
The minister faulted the financial gift of N300 million which Fubara gave the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the purpose of hosting its 2025 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.
The association has shifted the conference to Enugu citing the state of emergency in Rivers, and Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas recently asked for the return of the money to the state.
Wike said the gift was illegal as there was no provision whatsoever for the money in the state’s budget.
Besides, he said, the association’s criticism of the state of emergency was motivated by the gift.
“How will the NBA back Rivers’ emergency rule when they collect gifts?” he said.
“When the Body of Benchers came to see me, I told them. When the Justice gave judgment about local governments, the NBA came out and condemned it without reading the judgment.
“The President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, they say he is not correct, until everybody now knows why they took that stance, because the state gifted them a gift that was not appropriated.
“In my budget, I put it as a grant. I am allowed by law because it is appropriated. In this case the gift was not appropriated. The NBA took an illegal gift.”
Another prominent member of PDP and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday lamented what he called the unfortunate situation the party has now found itself.
He said long-standing unresolved issues and a lack of leadership direction had driven the once ruling party to the precipice.
“The situation in the party is unfortunate and regrettable,” Fayose said on Channels Television.
He added: “This problem did not start today. The party has failed to initiate any meaningful reconciliation or fence-mending.
“Everyone is fighting for their own interest—power for power, strength for strength.
Read Also: Abuja residents witnessing real change under Tinubu’s administration – Wike
“When you fall on metal, may God save your life. Everybody’s defending their tea, their cup, and their position. And when you use one broom to sweep, you make no impact.
“There is no denying the fact that all is not well with the PDP. All is not well, and it will take only a miracle to bring this party to the dreamed destination.”
Like Wike, Fayose said power must remain in the South in 2027 and reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu.
Assessing the President’s performance, the ex-governor said: “If you compare today and the past, you will still give it to Tinubu. The system is rotten, but he is managing a terrible situation.”
The Nation
