Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he pushed for the removal of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, during the political crisis in the state.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike, who is also the immediate past governor of Rivers State, stated that his intention was to have Fubara removed from office entirely. However, he noted that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to seek a more stabilizing solution prevented that outcome.
According to Wike, Tinubu had considered declaring a state of emergency in Rivers as a way to address the tensions, a move that ultimately kept Fubara in office and defused the crisis.
President Tinubu made the emergency declaration on March 18, 2025. The move led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state legislature. In their place, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired) was appointed to oversee the state’s administration during the crisis.
Wike, who has played a major role in the ongoing political tension in Rivers State, said he was not pleased with the emergency rule, but accepted it as the president’s way of handling the conflict.
“As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers State,” Wike stated. “I wanted the outright removal of Governor Fubara. The president, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara.”
He added that before the emergency was announced, Fubara was already in a weak position and likely would not have remained governor much longer.
“The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him,” he said. “Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”
Despite the heated situation, Wike said he is open to peace talks. But he also noted that the governor is not being encouraged to make peace, pointing fingers at Fubara’s advisers.
According to Wike, “They keep telling him not to agree to peace. That is the problem.”
