Governor Fubara, 

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he had pushed for the complete removal of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, but President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency ultimately prevented that from happening.

Wike made this revelation during a media chat held in Abuja on Friday.

He expressed disapproval of the emergency declaration but admitted that it effectively rescued the embattled governor from being ousted.

“As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers State,” Wike said.

“I wanted the outright removal of Governor Fubara. The president, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara.”

President Tinubu had declared the emergency on March 18, 2025, suspending the governor, his deputy, and the state legislature, and installing Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.

Wike, who has been at the heart of the prolonged political tensions in Rivers, emphasized that Fubara’s situation had already deteriorated to an irredeemable point before Tinubu’s intervention.

“The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him,” Wike stated.

“Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”

He also noted that while he is open to reconciliation, he believes that the suspended governor is being misled by his inner circle.

According to Wike, “Fubara’s advisers keep telling him not to embrace peace.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has asserted that he played a pivotal role in the emergence of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, insisting that the governor cannot refute his influence in that process.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike recounted his contribution to Diri’s political rise and also commented on his strained relationship with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his former ally and political protégé.

“Like the governor of Bayelsa, I played a fundamental role; he can’t deny it,” Wike stated during the interview.

He went further to suggest that reconciliation with Fubara is possible, but only if approached with honesty and remorse.

“In sincerity, if anybody comes, it must be in sincerity. The best opportunity was when the President intervened,” he said.

According to Wike, two state governors have approached him in recent times to help mediate the dispute between him and Fubara.

“Two governors came to me, and I said, ‘Look, I am here for peace. What does he want?’ and they said, ‘Look, we will do everything,’” he explained.

Wike also reiterated his support for the state of emergency declared in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu, a move that suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly, and led to the appointment of a sole administrator.

“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state,” Wike said.

He emphasized that the governor had already lost political footing before the federal intervention.

“The matter is in court, but people must say the truth. The governor was gone. It is not my place to make it good for the governor. As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable, and that is why there is a power plane,” he concluded.

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed ongoing discussions about forming a political coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu, describing them as insincere and self-serving.

Speaking in Abuja during a media chat on Friday, Wike accused those promoting the coalition of ignoring internal issues within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s leading opposition party.

“Those who are looking for a coalition are for selfish interests, the likes of Atiku and other people, which coalition, with whom?” he asked.

He criticized party leaders for prioritizing personal ambition over efforts to strengthen the party.

“Why not come in to repair your party? Everybody wants to become president of the country, nobody wants to say, look, let me build our party so that at the end of the day, our party will be in a formidable position as an opposition party to take over power.

“You don’t do that, the only thing you want to do is let me find a way; how I will be the one, and if that does not happen, then it’s to your tent, oh Israel,” Wike added.

This comes as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai are reportedly at the forefront of a coalition plan aimed at unseating President Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

However, Wike insisted the coalition push lacks substance and warned that the PDP risks repeating the same errors that contributed to its loss in 2023.

“You make the mistake yesterday, you want to repeat the same mistake today, tomorrow you make the same mistake, and then you come out to say you were rigged out, who rigged you out? You’ve already rigged yourself by causing crisis,” he stated.

The minister went further to say that the PDP is currently not in shape to contest the 2027 polls.

“The PDP is not ready for the 2027 election. It is very obvious. For instance, I have an examination and I am going to class to read. Indeed, am I reading? Am I studying? You don’t need to deceive anybody that you are reading. You are only trying to read so that people will see that you have carried your bag to class,” he explained.

“That is the situation of the PDP. So, they cannot say for sure that they are ready for 2027. Power struggle cannot help the party,” Wike concluded.

The scheduled interactive session between the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Rivers State and the state’s Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has been postponed.

The meeting, initially set for Thursday, was aimed at thoroughly examining the administrator’s activities following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the committee had earlier extended an invitation to Ibas for this comprehensive engagement.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, House Spokesperson Hon. Akin Rotimi announced the indefinite postponement of the session, explaining that the decision followed a formal request made by the sole administrator.

“In the spirit of transparent and effective oversight, the committee will promptly inform the public once the rescheduled date is confirmed,” Rotimi stated.

The House had earlier constituted a 21-member ad-hoc committee, chaired by Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, tasked with supervising the implementation of emergency rule in the state..

Amid mounting insecurity and intensifying criticism from opposition figures, the Presidency has issued a defense of President Bola Tinubu’s extended stay overseas, dismissing accusations that he is neglecting his duties.

The statement emphasized that the president continues to actively govern, despite his near two-week absence.

The President is expected to return after the Easter holidays.

Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, clarified that the president, who had recently traveled from Paris to London, remains engaged in national governance and is in “constant communication with key government officials.”

He also noted that the President has issued directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in parts of Nigeria, including those in Benue and Plateau states, where the escalation of killings has drawn concern from opposition leaders.

Both Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who were rivals to Tinubu in the 2023 presidential race, have criticized the President’s prolonged absence and called for his immediate return.

In response, Onanuga assured the public that the President’s absence is temporary and within the two-week timeframe communicated earlier.

“The President left Paris for London at the weekend and has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country,” he said.

He added that the President will resume duties at Aso Villa after the Easter break, emphasizing that the administration continues to function effectively.

Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, expressed appreciation for the Northern Traditional Rulers’ stand against the increasing insecurity in the country.

During the 7th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council in Maiduguri, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, alongside other regional traditional leaders, condemned the persistent killings and violence in the region, highlighting the need for stronger action from both politicians and security forces.

Obi praised the rulers’ courage and their collective stance, stating on his X account: “I would like to sincerely thank the Northern Traditional Rulers for their courageous and timely emergency declaration of the security situation in the region. I cannot agree less with them that ‘Enough is Enough’ regarding the persistent killings and insecurity plaguing our nation.”

He emphasized the importance of working closely with traditional leaders to find lasting solutions to the security issues facing the country.

“The stance of the Northern Traditional Rulers serves as a clarion call to all stakeholders. We must unite, irrespective of political affiliations, to implement lasting solutions that address the root causes of our nation’s challenges,” Obi urged.

Additionally, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) called for a renewed collective effort to tackle insecurity.

In a statement issued during the Easter season, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, CAN’s chairman, highlighted the urgency of addressing the violence, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.

He called for a new strategic approach to security, trauma-healing initiatives, and compensation for victims of violence.

Despite these growing concerns, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, reassured Nigerians that the military remains dedicated to combating terrorism and other security threats.

While acknowledging the recent surge in terrorist attacks, especially in Borno State, Musa reaffirmed the military’s resolve, urging troops to remain focused on their mission.

“The CDS noted that although there was a notable increase in the tempo of attacks, that would not diminish the military efforts in combating the scourge,” a statement from the Defence Headquarters said.

Musa also paid tribute to the fallen military personnel and expressed gratitude for their sacrifices in defending the country.