Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he would have preferred the removal of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara rather than the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The 57-year-old spoke during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.
He expressed discontent with the emergency measure, despite acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s decisive intervention in the political crisis engulfing Rivers.
According to Wike, Tinubu’s action prevented Fubara’s ouster and ultimately stabilised the situation.
READ ALSO: Why I chose Fubara as my successor – Wike
The former governor said, “As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of Governor Fubara. The president, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara.
Wike added that those criticising Tinubu should, in fact, be showing gratitude. “The governor was gone. He was gone, yes, so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him.”
He also criticised the governor for not initiating dialogue to resolve their differences.
“Has anybody taken it upon himself or herself to say, ‘this is where we are? If I am the cause of the problem. Has he ever called me as an elder to say what the problem is? Let us sit down and talk.”
Wike maintained that the president’s intervention averted a deeper political breakdown in the state.
Following the emergency declaration, President Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
READ ALSO: Emergency rule in Rivers: Lawyer wants administrator sacked
Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, was appointed to lead the state’s administration for an initial period of six months.
