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By Myke Agunwa
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State, stating that he personally wanted the outright removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara not suspension.
President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared emergency rule in the state and suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Tinubu who claimed the suspension became necessary because of recent political instability including pipeline explosions, appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator to steer the affairs of the state pending the resolution of the crisis.
Reacting to the development, Wike said, “As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state”.
He added that Tinubu’s intervention saved the state from plunging into further crisis.
“Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘can we wash your feet for saving us?
“The matter is in court but people must tell the truth. The governor was gone. It is not in my place to make it good for the governor. As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable and that is why there is power play”.
Wike also questioned why Fubara has not reached out to him since his suspension.
“Has anybody taken it upon himself or herself to say, ‘this is where we are?’,” he asked.
“If I am the cause of the problem… has he ever called me as an elder to say what is the problem? Let us sit down and talk.”
Wike also said that the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not have a formidable structure to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“From the look of things”, the minister said “PDP is not ready for the 2027 elections”.
Wike also made it known that he will not support PDP if party leaders do not unite and put their house in order for elections.
The minister said: “The PDP is not ready for the 2027 election. It is very obvious. 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.
“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.”
Opposition leaders across the country are intensifying efforts to form a united front against the APC.
However, divergent interests among key stakeholders have continued to hamper the progress of coalition/merger talks.