ABUJA: Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the political crisis in Rivers State prevented Governor Siminalayi Fubara from pursuing a second term, blaming the development on poor advice from political associates and external interests.
Wike made the remarks during the August edition of his monthly media chat where he reflected on the breakdown of his relationship with his former political ally.
According to the former Rivers State governor, he repeatedly advised Fubara not to abandon the political structure that brought him to power. I said, look, don’t derail. I came as governor, I had crisis. When I came as governor, there was nothing. They didn’t even relocate the Government House, Wike said.
Wike said he expected Fubara to consolidate on the achievements of his administration rather than distance himself from the political family that supported his emergence.
He explained that his vision was for successive administrations to continue building on existing projects in order to position Rivers State to compete with Lagos economically and infrastructurally. Somebody had laid a foundation. Look, this is where I stopped. If you continue this way, our dream is to be able to compete with Lagos. What is wrong with that?” he said.
The FCT minister alleged that individuals who initially opposed Fubara’s governorship later became his close advisers and encouraged him to confront those who supported his political rise.
According to Wike, those advisers misled the governor into believing he could successfully challenge his political benefactors. Those who didn’t want you to be governor now became your friends. Obviously, they will destroy you… Your intention was to go for a second term… and you are not going, Wike stated.
Despite their prolonged political disagreement, Wike insisted he still has affection for Fubara. When asked whether he still loved the governor, the minister replied: If I don’t love him, why would we support him?He disclosed that reconciliation efforts were made between both camps but eventually failed because of political considerations.
Wike further alleged that powerful external interests attempted to take control of Rivers State for financial gain.
He claimed some influential individuals, including senior lawyers, became deeply involved in the state’s political affairs and advised Fubara to resist his political camp.There are external forces who want to hijack Rivers State. There are those who see Rivers State as a cash cow,” Wike alleged.
The political rift between Wike and Fubara began shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023, escalating into a power struggle involving the Rivers State House of Assembly and repeated impeachment threats.
The dispute eventually led to a six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025, during which Governor Fubara and the state legislature were temporarily suspended.
Following his reinstatement, Fubara defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC). Although he initially obtained nomination forms to seek another term as governor, he later withdrew from the race in May 2026.
According to the report, Wike and his supporters linked the withdrawal to earlier peace arrangements under which Fubara agreed not to seek re-election in exchange for the withdrawal of impeachment moves. In July 2026, the governor publicly rejoined Wike’s political family and endorsed the coalition’s preferred
