The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he had pushed for the outright removal of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, but it was President Bola Tinubu’s timely intervention that ultimately saved the embattled governor.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike stated that he was not in favor of the state of emergency declared in Rivers, but admitted that the move effectively prevented Fubara from being ousted.
Recall President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, 2025, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state legislature.
He appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as the administrator of the state.
“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.”
Wike, who has been at the centre of the political crisis in Rivers, pointed out that Fubara’s position had already become untenable before the president’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,” he added. “Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”
Despite the crisis, the minister said he is ready for peace talks. However, he accused Governor Fubara’s advisers of discouraging him not to embrace peace.
