By Andrew Haruna – Abuja, Nigeria
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has openly admitted that he wanted Governor Siminalayi Fubara removed from office, citing a breakdown in governance and prolonged political tension in Rivers State.
Speaking during a media parley with select journalists on Friday in Abuja, Wike revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent intervention—leading to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly—was a necessary step to prevent the state from plunging into chaos.
“Yes, I wanted him removed. What was happening in Rivers was a disaster in the making. The President’s action saved the state from implosion,” Wike stated bluntly.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and political godfather to Fubara, endorsed the declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu, noting that the decision to appoint a sole administrator in the interim was in the best interest of the state.
The political crisis in Rivers had escalated over recent months, with factions loyal to Wike and Fubara clashing over control of the state’s political machinery. The tension reached a peak when pro-Wike lawmakers attempted to impeach Governor Fubara, leading to violent confrontations and a constitutional crisis.
President Tinubu’s intervention, which included the suspension of the top political figures in the state and the appointment of a sole administrator, has been described by Wike as a bold move to restore order and governance.
“The President has shown leadership. You cannot watch a state descend into lawlessness. What he did was constitutional, and it was the only way to protect the integrity of Rivers State,” Wike added.
The latest development marks a dramatic turn in the relationship between Wike and Fubara, who was once handpicked by the former FCT governor as his successor.
