The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims of widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara's re-election in 2027. Speaking during his monthly media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike rejected the narrative that the public is unanimously backing the governor for a second term, calling such assertions misleading.
Wike Addresses Political Friction in Rivers
Wike addressed the ongoing political friction in Rivers State, noting that a previous intervention by President Bola Tinubu was intended to bring peace between the governor and the State House of Assembly. According to Wike, the Assembly honored the President's arbitration by withdrawing impeachment proceedings, but he alleged that Fubara has since failed to uphold his end of the agreement.
“The President intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let there be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested in this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment,” Wike explained. “Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”
Criticism of Re-election Claims
Wike was particularly critical of the idea that the governor is being pressured by the electorate to run again. “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me. You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?” he said. “Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.”
Call for Respect of Agreements
Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome and that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments. He concluded by noting that the Assembly had respected the President's wishes, and it was now a matter of whether those agreements would be fully honored.
