Port Harcourt, Nigeria — Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, has drawn a firm line in the sand, publicly declaring that he will no longer support his political protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in any future political endeavors. In a recent interview, Wike, who was instrumental in Fubara’s rise to power during the March 2023 elections, expressed his frustrations with what he sees as betrayal by the current governor.
“I will never support Fubara in my political life again,” Wike said, underscoring the depth of the fallout between the two political heavyweights. Wike, who campaigned extensively for Fubara, lamented that his sacrifices to ensure Fubara’s victory have now been repaid with lies and disrespect. “People labored to put up a structure,” he said. “I sacrificed to talk to the Ogonis, I sacrificed to talk to several other people who let us go this way.”
At the heart of their conflict is Wike’s claim that Fubara has accused him of making exorbitant financial demands—rumors Wike has vehemently denied. “You turned it into that I am asking for N50 billion, N100 billion,” Wike remarked. He stressed that his focus had been to preserve the political structure that brought Fubara to power, not to interfere in governance.
The fallout between Wike and Fubara became public by late 2023, leading to a dramatic political crisis within Rivers State. Tensions escalated when members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, allegedly aligned with Wike, attempted to impeach Fubara. This political division has split the Assembly, with 27 lawmakers backing Wike and only three siding with Governor Fubara.
Wike, however, refutes any notion that their rift is stalling the development of Rivers State, insisting that he has no interest in interfering with the state’s governance. “I’m not interfering with governance. I don’t want to be there,” Wike said, emphasizing that his role as governor had ended, and he survived without crises.
As the battle for control over the state’s political machinery continues, the conflict has drawn national attention, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. Despite calls for mediation and resolution, Wike’s denunciation of his former ally has deepened an already fraught situation, signaling that the political standoff may only intensify in the coming months.
The saga between Wike and Fubara reflects a broader trend of political godfathers and protégés falling out once power transitions take place. In Rivers State, the future of the political structure Wike helped build now hangs in the balance as both men grapple for control.
