In a recent development that has further strained the political landscape of Rivers State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has openly criticized Governor Sim Fubara for allegedly surrounding himself with rivals who wants to be Governor . Wike expressed these concerns during a grand reception held in his honor by the Kalabari people of Rivers State on Saturday.
Addressing the gathering, Wike alleged that those advising Governor Fubara do not have his best interests at heart, suggesting that their ultimate goal is to see him vacate his position to pave the way for their own political aspirations. He specifically mentioned the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tammy Danagogo, as a central figure in the ongoing discord between him and his successor, which has plunged the state into a political crisis.
Wike recounted that the issues began when Danagogo, leveraging his brother’s position as a justice, obtained an ex parte order declaring that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had defected without notice. This same order purportedly allowed the state governor to present the budget to merely three or four lawmakers, bypassing the standard legislative process. Wike expressed his dismay, stating, “Look at Danagogo, who wanted to be governor. He was so pained that he was not given the ticket; he was the one following the governor, and he (Fubara) did not know. He will lead you (Fubara) to hellfire.”
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The former governor further admonished Fubara for his choice of associates, implying that surrounding himself with individuals who previously sought the governorship and were denied could be detrimental to his administration. “You (Fubara) surrounded yourself with people who wanted to be governor, whom I said ‘no’, these people don’t mean well for Rivers State. They are the ones surrounding you, giving you advice. Do you think you will succeed?” Wike questioned. He warned that such advisors are likely to provide poor counsel, leading to adverse outcomes for the governor. “They will give bad advice, and look at what bad advice is doing to you. You are already down 2-0, and there’s more to come. They come there and abuse me and you are happy; you don’t know it is you they want to destroy,” he added.
Wike not Ready to Settle with Fubara
The political tension between Wike and Fubara is not a recent development. Since Fubara’s inauguration, the relationship between the two leaders has been fraught with disagreements and public spats. Wike has previously accused Fubara of engaging in anti-party activities, alleging that the governor supported the Action Peoples Party (APP) during local government elections, thereby undermining their party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In an interview, Wike stated, “The governor sponsored APP, and Bala Mohammed was the one who attended the swearing-in of the APP chairmen.”
Efforts to reconcile the two factions have been unsuccessful. President Bola Tinubu convened a peace meeting between Wike and Fubara in 2023, but the intervention did not yield the desired results. Wike criticized Fubara and his allies for failing to implement the directives issued during the peace meeting, stating, “Mr President, in his wisdom, called all parties. He said, ‘This is the problem, and I want this problem to be resolved. Withdraw the impeachment notice.’ They never returned to him.”
Related: Rivers Crisis: Wike gains upper hand over Fubara as Tinubu sets 8-point resolution
Wike has remained steadfast in his position, ruling out any possibility of reconciling with Governor Fubara. He emphasized his commitment to delivering on his mandate as the FCT Minister and expressed no interest in mending fences with his successor. “In all honesty, I can tell you that there is no going back and my people know. What support? Have I come out of the one I did? Some people don’t play politics of integrity, but I do. He’s the one that says ‘dey your dey’ so let me ‘dey my dey,'” Wike remarked.
Related: Rivers Crisis: Pro-Wike Lawmakers Demand Conditions Before Meeting Fubara
