• Says he wanted Fubara out
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday, for the first time, expressed his displeasure over President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, but acknowledged that the decision was necessary given the ongoing political crisis.
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on March 18, 2025, citing persistent instability, threats to public order, and a breakdown in governance. The move followed months of political standoff, violent incidents, and a pipeline explosion that heightened security concerns in the oil-rich state.
As part of the emergency measures, the President suspended the president suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for six month, and appointed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas to oversee the state’s affairs.
Wike, while stating that he was not happy with the situation, admitted that the President’s intervention was the right step to restore peace and order in Rivers State.
The National Assembly subsequently approved the proclamation, allowing the emergency measures to take effect. Security agencies have since increased their presence in the state to maintain order and protect critical infrastructure.
Speaking during a live media chat aired on national television, Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers, said he wanted the outright removal of Fubara.
He said: “As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.”
He added, “People must say the truth, the governor is gone, they are all gone… if there’s anybody they should be worshipping, is Mr President. Everybody they should go to Mr President and say, ‘can we wash your feet for saving us?’ How? When the Supreme Court has said nobody can go to the local government when the person is not democratically elected, no money will go to the state without appropriation. In that situation all institutions will be shut down, health there will be crisis, education there will be crisis. I am saying as a politician, it is not in my place to make it easy for the governor.
“The point I’m trying to make is that Mr President came and saved the situation, saved Rivers people.”
Reminded that it was going to cause calamity if the governor was impeached, Wike said: “what calamity is it coup? When it is in the constitution that you can be impeached?… I didn’t tell anybody that I am a Pastor or Imam, it is a a power thing.
“The point I am making is that Mr President saved the situation so they should thank Mr President for saving them”.
On criticism of President Tinubu that he, Wike should have been suspended, he asked: “Suspended for what? Are you not hearing of coalition to make sure that Mr President does not return? Mr President who is also doing well.”