In a bold declaration that has stirred the political landscape, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has positioned himself as the second most abused politician in Nigeria, trailing only President Bola Tinubu. The former Rivers State governor made this statement on Saturday, December 27, 2025, during a gathering in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wike's Loyalty and Accusations in Rivers
Nyesom Wike used the occasion to reaffirm his unwavering loyalty to President Bola Tinubu. He pointedly mocked individuals in Rivers State who are now vocal in their praise for the President, suggesting they were conspicuously absent during the crucial 2023 presidential election campaigns. The minister's comments were delivered at the thanksgiving service for Chibudom Nwuche, the chairman of the South-South Development Commission and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who also pledged his loyalty to Wike alongside other political leaders.
Addressing the political leaders present, Wike framed the criticism against him as a consequence of his commitment to agreements. "Let me tell you, after President Bola Tinubu, the next most abused politician is me. Why are they abusing me? Because they know agreement is what? When we have agreed on something, let's implement it," he stated, highlighting a core principle of his political engagements.
Renewed Rift with Governor Fubara Escalates
The minister's pronouncements come against the backdrop of a renewed and public rift with his successor, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The conflict escalated when the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, publicly accused Governor Fubara of dishonesty. Amaewhule claimed the governor lied about his inability to meet with state lawmakers, warning that such statements could plunge Rivers into another phase of political instability.
This allegation from the assembly, whose members are largely loyal to Wike, was made just a day after Governor Fubara had dismissed reports of a fallout. On Wednesday, December 10, Fubara had described narratives of a rift with state and federal lawmakers as "pure lies." The political maneuvering is further complicated by the fact that both Governor Fubara and the pro-Wike state lawmakers have recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fubara's Counter and the Battle for Supremacy
In a move seen as a direct assertion of his authority, Governor Siminalayi Fubara recently declared himself the "Number 1" person in Rivers State. This proclamation was tied to his membership registration with the APC, where he claimed his form carried the symbolic number '001'. This statement is widely interpreted as a counter to the lawmakers loyal to Wike, who joined the APC a day before the governor's own defection and have accused him of not honoring a political agreement.
The ongoing power struggle, marked by public accusations and symbolic gestures, underscores the deep-seated tensions within the Rivers State chapter of the APC. It sets the stage for a significant political showdown as the state gears up for the 2027 general elections, with both factions vying for control and influence under the banner of the ruling party.
