Rivers crisis cost Fubara second-term ambition — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the political crisis in Rivers State ultimately cost Governor Siminalayi Fubara the opportunity to seek a second term, blaming what he described as poor political advice and interference from external interests.

Wike made the remarks during his monthly media chat aired on Channels Television on Tuesday, where he reflected on the breakdown of his relationship with his former political ally.

The former Rivers State governor said he repeatedly warned Fubara against abandoning the political structure that brought him to power, urging him instead to build on the foundation already laid.

“I told him not to derail. Somebody had already laid a foundation. The dream was to continue building Rivers State to compete with places like Lagos. There was nothing wrong with that,” Wike said.

He recalled assuming office as governor under difficult circumstances, claiming he inherited no official vehicles and had to borrow ceremonial cars from a former Ondo State governor before gradually rebuilding government infrastructure.

According to Wike, those who initially opposed Fubara’s emergence as governor later became his closest advisers and encouraged him to confront the political camp that supported his election.

“Those who didn’t want you to become governor suddenly became your friends. At the end of the day, I lost nothing, but you lost the opportunity to pursue a second term,” he said.

Responding to a question on whether he still cared about Fubara, Wike said his support for the governor’s emergence was proof of their previous relationship.

“If I didn’t love him, why would we have supported him?” he asked.

The FCT minister also disclosed that attempts were made to reconcile both camps but said political considerations prevented a lasting settlement.

He further alleged that some external interests sought to take control of Rivers State for personal gain, accusing certain influential individuals of misleading the governor and encouraging him to resist his political benefactors.

“There are people who see Rivers State as a cash cow. They gave him wrong advice and made him believe he could ignore those who brought him to power,” Wike said.

The rift between Wike and Fubara began shortly after the governor assumed office in 2023 and later escalated into a prolonged political crisis involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, impeachment threats and the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

Following his reinstatement, Fubara joined the All Progressives Congress but later withdrew from the party’s governorship primary, effectively ending speculation about a second-term bid. Later, he publicly aligned himself with the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition and endorsed its preferred governorship candidate.