The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that he has no personal conflict with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, contrary to widespread public speculation.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike also distanced himself from the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers, asserting that he neither supported the move nor played a role in its decision.
“I don’t have any crisis with him (Fubara). I’m not the President who declared a State of Emergency; if Mr President had called me, I wouldn’t have agreed to the State of Emergency,” Wike said.
He emphasized that the declaration was likely made as a last resort to protect Governor Fubara from imminent impeachment.
“But what I said was that the declaration of state of emergency was to save the governor because he was almost impeached,” Wike noted.
Addressing the internal tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike accused his detractors of creating unnecessary crises, saying: “What is happening in PDP is what I call undertakers because I see no reason why you will put yourself under that kind of crisis.”
He also claimed that Governor Fubara had unknowingly become a pawn in a larger political scheme. “Rather, the governor, unknown to me, gave himself to be the tool for those who couldn’t fight me to fight me,” Wike added.
What you should know
Nyesom Wike has dismissed claims of a rift with Governor Fubara and rejected any involvement in the State of Emergency declared in Rivers. He insists the move was aimed at protecting Fubara from impeachment and blames political rivals for fueling internal party tensions.
