Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he personally wanted Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State removed from office, but it was President Bola Tinubu’s intervention that spared the governor.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Friday, Wike admitted that he wasn’t pleased with the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State but acknowledged that the president’s action prevented a complete collapse of governance in the state.
“As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of Governor Fubara,” Wike said.
He went on to praise President Tinubu for stepping in at the critical moment, saying the decision ultimately saved both the governor and the state from deeper crisis.
“The president, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara. The governor was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him,” Wike added. “Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘can we wash your feet for saving us?’”
The crisis in Rivers took a dramatic turn with the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. In their place, President Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator to oversee the state for six months.
Wike also lamented the breakdown of communication between himself and Fubara, questioning why the governor has not reached out to him to resolve issues.
“If I am the cause of the problem… has he ever called me as an elder to say what is the problem? Let us sit down and talk?” he asked.
The FCT Minister insisted that Tinubu’s intervention was timely and critical in saving Rivers from descending further into political instability.
