•‘No going back on our decision for Rivers’

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he would soon reveal details of the peace agreement reached between him and  Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers before President Bola Tinubu.

President Tinubu in June brokered a peace deal between Wike and Fubara to end the prolonged political crisis in the state.

Speaking during a “thank-you visit” to Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday, the former Rivers State governor accused Fubara of reneging on the agreement, saying the terms would soon be made public.

He cautioned the people of Tai against associating with individuals who fail to keep their promises in the name of politics, stressing that such people should not be trusted.

Wike, who said Rivers people were battle-ready for the 2027 elections, warned that money would not determine electoral outcomes in the state, insisting that the will of the people would prevail.

He explained that his visit was not politically motivated but meant to appreciate the people of Tai for their support for him and President Tinubu during the 2023 general elections.

“It was a tough battle in 2023. You took a risk, worked with us, and God gave us victory. See what that risk has resulted in—a federal university sited in Tai and many other benefits,” he said.

Earlier, Senator Barry Npigi (APC–Rivers South-East) thanked President Tinubu and Wike for their support to the senatorial district, saying the people had never had it so good.

Npigi assured Wike of continued loyalty, noting that the people were committed to justice, equity, and fairness as exemplified by the Tinubu administration.

Mr Bernard Nbar, representing Tai Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, assured Wike of the sustained support of his constituents.

“You can count on the Tai people, because Tai people keep to their words,” Nbar said.

Chairman of Tai Local Government Council, Mbakpone Okpe, thanked Wike for the visit, describing his directive to support Tinubu in 2023 as a blessing to the people.

Okpe said Tai had benefited from appointments, infrastructure, empowerment, and other dividends of democracy, adding that the people were ready to support Tinubu for a second term. “For these reasons and more, we are eager to return Mr President for another tenure. We will roll out all our votes for Tinubu and whoever you support,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wike has said no going back on the decision taken to restore power to Rivers people in 2027.

He said this during a “thank you visit’” to Emele Local Government Area of the state.

He said part of the decision was to support President Tinubu’s re-election for a second term and correct the leadership mistake at the state level.

He stated that no amount of money would change their course, adding: “We have done it before and we are going to do it again. We are prepared; we have made a decision and we are not going back. I want you to be strong. Nobody will intimidate us.”

He explained that the the people who were entrusted with power in Rivers have been misled by money and power, stating that greed and lack of gratitude lead to downfall.

He said he was in Eleme to thank the people for standing firm with Tinubu, stressing that he had not taken their support for granted.

“In spite of all the troubles, Tinubu decided that I, a South-South person, should be the Minister of FCT. It has never happened before. Also, the ongoing development in this area has never happened before until Tinubu happened,” he said.

Chief Aforji Igwe, representing Eleme in Rivers House of Assembly, described Wike as a “fair, just and a man of integrity.”

Igwe pledged the support of Eleme people to the minister due to his outstanding support to the people.

Chairman of Eleme Council, Chief Obarilormate Ollor, commended the minister for all the infrastructural interventions in the area during his time as governor of Rivers.

Ollor assured Wike that the people of the council area were with him and ready to go wherever he asked them to go.

He said that the people were already aware of his directive for the re-election of Tinubu but awaiting the directive for the governorship election in 2027.