Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that two governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) recently approached him to intervene in the ongoing political crisis rocking Rivers State. The crisis, which has continued to strain relations between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has drawn national attention amid efforts at reconciliation.
Speaking during a media interview reported by TVC, Wike disclosed that the governors reached out to him in an attempt to mediate the situation. “Two governors from the APC came to talk to me, and I said I’m not the governor. I’m a minister in the FCT, and there was a gang up against me here, and I knew there was a gang up,” he said, suggesting that political forces were working against him even in his new role in Abuja.
Wike made it clear that he remains focused on delivering results in the FCT, where he currently serves under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. “I had to put some structures on ground to see that there is peace, and I do my work. I don’t need to allow somebody to capitalize on one or two things that will affect the administration of the president who has confidence in me and put me in this place,” he explained.
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The former Rivers governor also revealed details of the discussions with the APC governors, who came advocating on behalf of Governor Fubara. “I don’t need to begin to give you the script. You’re a governor, and you have a problem. That’s why I always say governance is not just about awarding contracts and commissioning projects. It goes far beyond that,” Wike stressed, in what appeared to be a subtle jab at his successor’s leadership style.
Despite the underlying tension, Wike expressed willingness to embrace peace and reconciliation. “When these two governors came to me, I said, ‘Look, I’m here for peace. What does he [Fubara] want?’ And they said, ‘We’ll do everything to make sure he does that.’ I responded in sincerity, saying that if anybody comes here, we will talk, because I’m for peace,” he added.
Wike’s revelations come at a time when political analysts are calling for dialogue and de-escalation in Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic states. His statement signals a possible opening for reconciliation, but whether Governor Fubara will seize the opportunity remains uncertain.
