Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has delivered a sharp rebuke of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, saying the governor's most significant political misstep was rushing to construct an independent political base shortly after taking office.
Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Saturday, August 1, Wike asserted that Fubara should have instead consolidated the existing political machinery that propelled him into the governorship. The former Rivers governor, who held office from 2015 to 2023, played a pivotal role in securing Fubara's emergence as governor, but their relationship soon fractured, plunging the state into a bitter political crisis.
A Call to Strengthen Existing Political Foundation
Wike argued that Fubara's decision to disregard the political structure that backed him was not only premature but also strategically flawed. He said the governor should have built on the foundation laid by his administration to position Rivers State as a competitor to Lagos in terms of infrastructure and development.
According to Wike, Fubara instead chose to govern independently, failing to acknowledge the political support that made his election possible. This, Wike noted, was a fundamental error that has had lasting consequences for governance in the state.
The Roots of the Rivers Political Crisis
The friction between the two leaders became public shortly after Fubara assumed office. Lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor, a move that escalated tensions and threatened to destabilise the state. A truce was eventually reached between the rival factions, but the underlying rift remained.
As part of the reconciliation efforts, Fubara withdrew from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary after being screened alongside Kingsley Chinda, a prominent ally of Wike. The governor later endorsed Chinda as his preferred successor, explaining that the decision was made in the interest of peace, unity and political stability in Rivers State.
Wike's Warning on Political Counsel
Reflecting on the dispute, Wike accused Fubara of failing to distinguish between well-meaning advice and counsel that could harm his administration. He warned that political leaders are often surrounded by individuals with mixed intentions.
"In this game, you have schoolmates, village relations, and all kinds of people. There are those who will mean well for you. There are those who do not mean well for you," Wike said during the media chat.
He went on to describe the influence of such advisers on Fubara: "Now, you got to the office, someone now says to you, 'Yes, he (Wike) has supported you and must things be in his name? Why not just try to put yourself? And let people know it came through you'. He made a mistake by saying that I can do it alone. Those who gave me support, I don't care. I don't need them."
Signs in the First 100 Days
Wike also revealed that Fubara's intentions became evident within the first three months of his tenure. According to the FCT Minister, it was clear that the governor was actively attempting to create a separate political structure rather than working with the one that had ensured his victory.
"He tried to set up his own structure as against the structure that built him. It did not take up to 100 days, we saw it. We said something must be fundamentally wrong. In politics, you have to be very careful," Wike asserted.
These remarks are the latest in a series of public exchanges between the two political heavyweights, underscoring how deeply the rift has affected governance in Rivers State. While the truce has held, the questions Wike raises about loyalty, political structure and leadership continue to shape the state's political landscape.
