The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that no one will stop him from working against the re-election bid of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the statement on Sunday during a visit to Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he accused Governor Fubara of reneging on agreements reached between them on two occasions. He insisted that the political mistake made in 2023 would not be repeated.
According to the minister, his stance has nothing to do with personal ambition but is driven by what he described as the interest of the people of Rivers State. He maintained that trust had been broken and that there was no basis for further reconciliation.
“I heard people saying that they will call me and give me instructions. Let me tell you, there is nothing like instruction as far as Rivers State is concerned. Nobody will call me,” Wike said.
“You had the first agreement, somebody reneged; second agreement, he reneged. Then which call will you accept again? We will not make that mistake again,” he added.
Wike stressed that he remains comfortable in his current position as FCT minister and is not under any pressure politically. He recalled his time as Rivers State governor, saying the state enjoyed national respect and political influence during his administration.
“It has nothing to do with me as a person. As a minister of the Federal Capital Territory, I’m very comfortable. It is about the people. When I was governor, Rivers State was respected nationally. When I spoke at that time, you would know that Rivers State was in charge,” he said.
The former governor further claimed that during his tenure, Rivers State stood firmly against the Federal Government on certain issues and prevailed, a position he said demonstrated the strength of leadership at the time.
“When I was governor, I challenged the Federal Government and we won. Now that the opposition has collapsed, everybody is now shouting on your mandate. Why didn’t you shout on your mandate since?” Wike queried.
New Daily Prime reports that the long-standing political rift between Wike and Fubara has resurfaced in recent weeks, as the incumbent governor begins consultations and groundwork ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The renewed face-off has continued to shape political alignments and tensions within Rivers State, with observers predicting intensified political battles as the election season approaches.
