Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, broke his silence on the deepening political tensions in Rivers State, laying bare issues of betrayal, impunity, and hypocrisy within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and his contentious relationship with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike, who served as the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and a key stakeholder in the PDP, revealed that he formally informed the party and relevant authorities before accepting a ministerial appointment in the APC-led government of President Bola Tinubu. He criticized those who labeled his acceptance as betrayal, describing such accusations as “hypocritical and dishonest,” especially when PDP governors themselves had submitted names for appointments under the APC administration.
“I wrote to the governor. I wrote to the national party. I challenge any of them to show where I was told not to take the appointment,” Wike stated. “When Jonathan became president, he appointed people from opposition parties. Obasanjo did the same. What is different now?”
Drawing from personal metaphor, Wike likened his experience with Governor Fubara to that of a parent betrayed by his child.
“You know the pain of training your child, giving them the best education, sacrificing everything—and then one day he shows up with robbers and points a gun at you. That’s what happened to me,” he said.
According to Wike, Governor Fubara, whom he “handpicked and backed“, has now become a tool in the hands of his political enemies. He accused the governor of using media propaganda and emotional blackmail to avoid genuine reconciliation.
“They say peace is ongoing. Ongoing where? On air? On TV? I have never seen him. I’ve not been invited to any meeting. They’re acting a script to shift blame,” Wike charged.
On the recent state of emergency declared in Rivers, Wike clarified that it wasn’t his idea and, in fact, he would have opposed it had he been consulted.
“If the President had called me at that time, I wouldn’t have supported the declaration,” he said, stressing that the emergency was primarily to save Governor Fubara from impeachment, not to protect the state.
He alleged that those who once tried to politically destroy Fubara—petitioning him to the EFCC—are now being embraced by the governor, a move Wike sees as ironic and tragic.
Wike used the platform to call out what he described as the PDP’s “do as I say, not as I do” attitude, especially on the matter of supporting APC at the federal level while pretending loyalty in public.
He doubled down on his belief in a Southern presidency, defending his actions during the last election campaign.
“I led the campaign in Rivers against him [Atiku Abubakar]. Are you not aware that he didn’t even get 10% here? I’ve always said the South must produce the president.”
Despite the chaos, Wike insists he holds no regrets.
“If I had done this secretly, people would have accused me of betrayal. But I was clear—I will not support injustice. I stood for fairness and equity.”
He, however, expressed sadness that those he empowered and protected are now leading the charge against him.
“I pray those who betray others will be betrayed ten times worse. That’s my prayer.”
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