Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he had pushed for the outright removal of suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Wike made the disclosure during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, where he commended President Bola Tinubu for intervening in the crisis by suspending Fubara for six months and declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.
According to the minister, Tinubu’s decisive action prevented what could have become a full-blown calamity and institutional collapse in the state.
“As a politician, I’m not happy because I wanted the outright removal of the governor, but for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing,” Wike said.
“People must say the truth—the governor was gone. People should be worshipping Mr. President every morning for saving them.”
The FCT Minister referenced Supreme Court rulings regarding the operation of local governments and budgetary appropriations, noting that the absence of due process could have led to the shutdown of government institutions in the state.
“Mind you, the Supreme Court has said that money should not go to local governments without democratically elected officials. Also, the court ruled that no one can spend state funds without proper appropriation,” he noted.
Wike emphasized that he holds no responsibility to make the governor “comfortable” politically, stating: “It’s not in my place to make it good for the governor as a politician. That’s why there is power play.”
He reiterated that Tinubu’s intervention averted chaos: “The point I’m trying to make is that Mr. President came in and saved the people of Rivers from calamity or anarchy.”
Wike added that both he and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were dissatisfied with the situation and had to take additional steps, including traveling abroad to consult with key stakeholders.
“People should thank Mr. President. As a politician, I’m not happy — the Assembly members were not happy, and that’s why I had to go to London to speak to them,” he said.
The comments further underline the deepening political rift in Rivers State and the critical role played by the presidency in maintaining stability in the oil-rich state.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate