ABUJA – Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday said Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara brought his political troubles upon himself by abandoning the political structure that produced him and listening to what he described as “political vampires” determined to hijack the state.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, Wike said he had done everything possible to ensure Fubara emerged governor and even publicly endorsed his second-term ambition before the relationship between them broke down.
“I flagged off the Ring Road project and told him that if he completed it, nobody would stop his second term. How do you support somebody more than that?” Wike asked.
Responding to claims that he masterminded the political crisis in Rivers State, the former governor insisted that Fubara’s predicament was self-inflicted.
“He wouldn’t have been in that position if he had not walked away from the political structure. That was where the problem started,” he said.
Wike dismissed allegations that he was acting as a political godfather, arguing that every political organisation has leaders and established structures.
“People talk about godfatherism every day. Every political party has leaders. That doesn’t make anybody a godfather. Politics is about leadership and organisation,” he stated.
The minister alleged that some politicians who initially opposed Fubara’s emergence later became his closest allies and encouraged him to confront those who worked for his election.
“Those who never wanted him to become governor suddenly became his friends. Their mission was to fight us, but in the end, what did I lose? Nothing. He was the one who had everything to lose,” Wike said.
He further alleged that powerful external interests, including some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), attempted to seize control of Rivers State for personal benefit.
“There are people who see Rivers State as a cash cow. They moved in, gave him wrong advice and wanted to hijack the state for themselves,” he alleged.
Despite the crisis, Wike said he still wanted peace and had no personal grudge against the governor.
“If I didn’t love him, why would I have supported him to become governor? I wanted him to succeed,” he said.
The FCT minister disclosed that a reconciliation committee had already been set up to resolve the political rift and reintegrate all stakeholders.
“We have constituted a committee. The task now is to bring everybody together and move Rivers State forward,” he said.
Wike, however, warned Fubara against returning to those he blamed for the crisis.
“The danger is still there. If he allows those same people back into his political structure, they will finish him politically. He has to be careful,” he cautioned.
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