By Aliyu Oyewole
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the political crisis in Rivers State ultimately denied Governor Siminalayi Fubara the opportunity to seek a second term, blaming what he described as poor advice from political associates and external interests.
Wike made the remarks during the August edition of his monthly media chat aired live on Channels Television on Tuesday, where he reflected on his strained relationship with his former political ally and the events that led to their fallout.
According to the former Rivers State governor, he repeatedly warned Fubara against abandoning the political structure that brought him to power.
“I said, look, don’t derail. I came as governor, I had crisis. When I came as governor, there was nothing. They didn’t even relocate the Government House,” Wike said.
He recalled inheriting an administration with limited resources, stating that he had to borrow ceremonial vehicles from former Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko because there were no official vehicles available.
“When I came, I had to borrow vehicles from the former governor of Ondo, Mimiko, these parade vehicles. Nobody kept any vehicle; I didn’t have one vehicle.
“But before I left as governor, I packed out from Government House one and a half years before. I renovated Government House. I bought vehicles for the governor, the deputy governor and the governor’s wife. I did that,” he said.
Wike said he expected his successor to build on the foundation he laid rather than dismantle the political structure that facilitated his emergence.
“Somebody had laid a foundation. Look, this is where I stopped. If you continue this way, our dream is to be able to compete with Lagos. What is wrong with that?” he asked.
The FCT minister alleged that politicians who opposed Fubara’s emergence later became his closest advisers and encouraged him to confront those who supported his governorship ambition.
“Those who didn’t want you to be governor now became your friends. Obviously, they will destroy you, thinking that coming closer to you is to fight us.
“At the end of the fight, I have not lost anything. What have I lost? Nothing. But you have lost. Your intention was to go for a second term, is it not correct? And you are not going,” Wike stated.
Responding to a question on whether he still had affection for Fubara despite their political differences, Wike replied, “If I don’t love him, why would we support him? That’s the point I’m making.”
He also disclosed that efforts were made to reconcile both camps but said political calculations prevented a lasting settlement.
“There was a time we all thought, we all agreed, and said, ‘Look, can we allow bygones to be bygones?’ But something fundamental came up in politics.
“They said, ‘Look, if you allow this now, there are those who are here who want to see that we are no longer politically relevant,’” he said.
Wike further alleged that powerful external interests attempted to seize control of Rivers State for financial gain.
“There are external forces who want to hijack Rivers State. There are those who see Rivers State as a cash cow,” he said, adding that some prominent lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria, played roles in advising the governor against his political camp.
According to him, those individuals encouraged Fubara to rely on legal interpretations while enjoying privileged access to government resources.
“They were sending them aircraft, then they would relax in the jet. To them, they were king. So, for him to continue to be there, they would exert that kind of influence.
“We said no, this cash cow must end now. You won’t have it again. Take as much as you can, but you have to stop,” Wike added.
The political crisis between Wike and Fubara began shortly after the governor assumed office in 2023, escalating into a prolonged power struggle involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, impeachment threats, and a state of emergency declared in March 2025.
Although Fubara was later reinstated and subsequently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), he withdrew from the 2026 governorship race and later endorsed the Wike-backed governorship candidate after publicly reconciling with his former political mentor.
