Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has addressed the political situation in Rivers State, confirming that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara visited him seeking reconciliation. However, Wike made it clear that the current political turmoil in the state was self-inflicted. The visit came after Fubara’s meeting with President Bola Tinubu in London, following the president’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers on March 18. This emergency led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, with retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas appointed as administrator during the period.
In a media chat on Monday, Wike revealed that Fubara was accompanied by two governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), even though Fubara is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While Wike acknowledged Fubara’s desire for peace, he emphasized that reconciliation requires more than just verbal intentions. Wike claimed that he had previously advised Fubara to avoid being influenced by political forces and that the crisis could have been prevented if these warnings had been heeded.
Wike further expressed disappointment over the lack of concrete steps toward peace, suggesting that Fubara’s attempts were merely superficial. He stated, “Peace requires more than just words. You must show through actions that you want peace.” He also pointed out that Fubara had been warned early in his tenure by prominent leaders, including Seyi Makinde, Ortom, Ikpeazu, and Umahi, who had all urged him to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Wike criticized the influence of other governors on Fubara, warning that failure to resolve the situation could lead to prolonged instability in the state. He explained that if the state of emergency were lifted without addressing the core issues, the crisis would persist, including potential challenges in passing the state budget and securing federal allocations.
Additionally, Wike questioned Fubara’s ability to lead a genuine peace process, noting that his supporters were still publicly attacking opponents. Wike emphasized that peace could only be achieved through consistent action and not by merely declaring an intent to resolve the situation. “You must show by conduct and action that you want peace,” Wike said, stressing the need for real leadership to end the ongoing political rift in Rivers State.
