The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed dissatisfaction with the presidential proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Speaking during a media parley on Friday in Abuja, the minister said he had pushed for the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike, however, restated his position, saying, “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.”
He added that the matter is in court, but people must speak the truth, stressing that it was not his responsibility to make things easier for the governor.
“The governor was gone. It is not my place to make it good for him. As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable, and that is why there is power play,” he said.
The rift between Wike and Fubara has been ongoing since Fubara assumed office as governor, with the two locked in a struggle for control over the state’s political and structural resources.
This feud has also led to significant political fallout, including the defection of 27 suspended members of the state House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite his preference for Fubara’s removal, Wike acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency, which he said was necessary to prevent further chaos in the state.
Wike said, “The president did the right thing. If the state of emergency was not declared, money would not go to the state.”
Wike also addressed the suspension of Governor Fubara, questioning why the former governor had not reached out to him to resolve their differences.
“Has he ever called me as an elder to say what is the problem? Let us sit down and talk,” Wike asked, suggesting that communication could have alleviated some of the tension between them.
Wike revealed that he supported Tinubu’s appointment of a Sole Administrator to oversee Rivers State, acknowledging that while declaring emergency rule is an unusual step, the president acted in good faith given the political instability and security threats in the region.
Last month, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to ongoing political instability and recent security challenges, including pipeline explosions.
As part of the move, the president suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months, citing security concerns.
He described the decision as “inevitably compelling” based on intelligence reports.
In place of the suspended officials, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibas as Sole Administrator to manage the affairs of the state until the crisis is resolved. The move has sparked widespread debate across the country.
