- Nyesom Wike, advocated for the removal of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
- President Bola Tinubu took decisive action that prevented Fubara’s removal.
- Wike held a press conference in Abuja to discuss the situation.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he had advocated for the complete removal of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, but it was President Bola Tinubu’s decisive action that prevented the governor’s removal.
During a press conference held in Abuja on Friday, Wike acknowledged that although he was not supportive of declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, the president’s move ultimately safeguarded Fubara’s position.
It is worth recalling that on March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. The declaration led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly. In their place, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as the interim administrator.
“As a politician, I wasn’t pleased with the idea of a state of emergency in Rivers,” Wike remarked. “But I had called for Governor Fubara’s removal. The president’s declaration, in essence, protected him.”
Wike, who has played a central role in the ongoing political conflict in the state, insisted that Fubara’s leadership had become unsustainable before the federal government stepped in.
“The governor’s time was up. He had no political ground left to stand on. People should be thanking the president daily,” he said. “They ought to be asking, ‘Mr. President, may we wash your feet for saving us?’”
Despite the tense situation, Wike signaled openness to reconciliation. However, he blamed the governor’s inner circle for advising against peaceful dialogue.
