I Wanted Fubara Removed, Not Just Suspended — Wike

•••Says PDP Lacks Structure To Win In 2027

•••Commends Tinubu’s Emergency Rule In Rivers

•By Admin

ABUJA – Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he had pushed for the outright removal of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, but commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a State of Emergency to stabilize the state.

Wike, who made the remarks during a media parley in Abuja, said the president acted in the best interest of the state by suspending the governor rather than removing him entirely, as he had hoped.

“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. I wanted the outright removal of the governor,” Wike said. “But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy.”

President Tinubu had last month declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, citing persistent political instability and recent security threats, including pipeline explosions. The move led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for six months.

Tinubu subsequently appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.) as sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs pending the resolution of the crisis.

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Wike and Fubara have been embroiled in a long-standing political feud since Fubara assumed office, a conflict that has splintered the state’s House of Assembly into factions and triggered the defection of 27 lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The matter is in court, but people must tell the truth. The governor was gone. It’s not in my place to make it good for him,” Wike added. “As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable and that is why there is power play.”

Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its immediate past governor in Rivers, also took a swipe at the party’s preparedness for the 2027 elections, declaring that the PDP lacks the structure and unity to pose a real challenge to the APC.

“The PDP is not ready for the 2027 election. It’s very obvious,” Wike said. “You claim you’re studying for an exam, but you’re not actually reading. You’re only pretending so people think you are. That’s the situation with the PDP today.”

According to him, internal wrangling and power struggles have weakened the PDP’s prospects, and unless party leaders put their house in order, they risk another electoral defeat.

Wike also ruled out offering his support to the PDP unless there is genuine unity and strategic direction, stating, “Power struggle cannot help the party.”

Meanwhile, opposition leaders across the country continue to explore coalition talks to form a united front against the APC ahead of 2027, but divergent interests remain a major obstacle.

•INDEPENDENTNG.