Rivers Political Crisis| I Preferred Fubara’s Removal – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has expressed his displeasure over the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating that it was not his desired outcome in the ongoing political crisis.

Wike made the remarks during a media parley held in Abuja on Friday. Speaking candidly, he said he would have preferred the outright removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara rather than the imposition of emergency rule.

I am not happy with the state of emergency, Wike said. As a politician, I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy.”

Last month, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in response to heightened political instability and escalating security threats, including recent pipeline explosions. In a move that shocked many, Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months. He appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the sole administrator to oversee the affairs of the state during the interim period.

Wike acknowledged that the matter is currently in court but emphasized the importance of being honest about the situation. “The governor was gone. It is not my place to make things easy for him. As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable. That is why there is a power structure,” he added.

Tensions between Wike and Fubara have been building since the latter assumed office, resulting in a deepening rift fueled by a struggle for control over the state’s political and structural apparatus.

The crisis has extended to the Rivers State House of Assembly, where 27 lawmakers were suspended and later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The power tussle has since led to the emergence of parallel legislative factions and two rival speakers, further deepening the political divide.

As the legal and political drama unfolds, Nigerians continue to debate the implications of the emergency rule and its impact on democratic governance in the state.