During a media chat on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, criticised the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, for disrespecting President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to bring peace to the state.
He addressed the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, emphasising the importance of legality and respect for the judiciary.
He noted that the President spent three hours mediating in the Rivers State crisis, after which a resolution was reached, with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, signing on behalf of the government.
According to him, ‘A President of a country will leave everything he was doing to mediate and brought out something that you people should come and sign. A President, for over three hours, sat down and brought out something and said, “Do you accept?” You said, “Yes”; he turned to another, “Do you accept?” “Yes, yes, yes,” then told the National Security Adviser, who signed on behalf of government, and nobody had thought it’s a thing and said, “Look, this thing we signed, what has happened?” We live in a country that nobody can box us into what we don’t want to do.’
The Minister commended the Supreme Court’s judgment recognising the legitimacy of 27 lawmakers aligned with him, stating that challenging illegality is commendable.
Wike criticised Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s approach to the state assembly, emphasising that lawmakers are not subservient to the governor but rather a separate arm of government.
The Minister stated, ‘The right thing must be done. We challenged this illegality, and today we are happy that the Supreme Court has made a pronouncement. Who is wrong? Who is right? Commend those who challenge illegality. Don’t commend those who said we will do anything that is wrong.’
When reminded that as a governor he could not be challenged, Wike highlighted the need for a good relationship between the governor and the legislature, saying, ‘Hold on, let me tell you, the Speaker and assembly members are not your children.
‘When I was the governor, I sat with them. We ate together, we drank together, we played together. They are not your boys. They are not your girls. They were elected as you were also elected. Some of them—it was through the election that made you (the governor) win an election. So, you will not treat them as if they are your boys. No, you don’t do that. You don’t do that. The legislature is a different arm of government. So, you must be careful.
‘I travelled with my legislators, I did. As I am travelling, I ask Mr Speaker, “Can I have three, four, five legislators to accompany me on this trip?” Mr President travels on a trip and he says, “Call me so-and-so Senator, call me so-and-so House of Representatives member, I want them to join me on my trip.”
‘You create a relationship; it is not a master-servant thing. You cannot do it. If you have been doing it before and you succeeded, it does not mean today you will succeed. You see, we are now moving to a world that you cannot try it.’
Wike attributed Fubara’s problems to those around him who are people-pleasers and have exploited the state through sycophancy. Making reference to the Governor’s remarks about the amount of money that had been spent, he said, ‘No, I didn’t spend that kind of money. No way. None of my lawyers told me you are going to pay this. You must have a good relationship with people. Goodwill pays a lot. And that is what paid off for us. But I know what their own team spent. They are not telling you the truth. Their own lawyers bungled their case, and they don’t want to tell the people.’
The Minister also dismissed threats of unrest from militant groups, calling them ‘political things being planted by some people in government.’
He strongly condemned the notion that the Ijaw people or Niger Delta militants are solely responsible for pipeline vandalism. Wike described such claims as ‘rubbish’, questioning why certain groups are singled out for such actions. He emphasised that attributing pipeline sabotage to specific ethnic groups is unjustified and politically motivated.
Wike also highlighted that contracts for pipeline surveillance are often awarded to individuals from the Niger Delta, including notable figures like Tompolo.
Wike questioned the role of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), labelling it ‘the worst organisation anybody can rely on’, and expressed scepticism about their motives. He expressed disappointment, noting,
‘If you have a father who is always interested in money, he can sell his child or his children.’
He criticised PANDEF, labelling it as an organisation that undermines authority, particularly after they challenged President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in court.
‘They took Mr President to court… Now you’re going to tell the President to do what? That Supreme Court judgment should not be obeyed?’ he asked.
When asked if he would back Fubara’s impeachment, Wike noted that if he has committed an offence, impeachment is a constitutional process. However, he questioned who called for Fubara’s impeachment, stating, ‘I didn’t know you have a record of people who are loyal to me.’
Wike dismissed threats of violence in the state, calling them political tactics. He emphasised that peace can only be achieved by doing the right thing, such as presenting the budget and complying with court orders.
Wike concluded, ‘Peace is predicated on doing the right thing.’
