In a dramatic twist to the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he would have preferred the outright removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the imposition of emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu.
During a tense media briefing in Abuja, Wike made his stance unmistakably clear. “As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers State. I wanted the outright removal of the governor,” he stated. “But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy.”
Tensions in Rivers State exploded last month when President Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire House of Assembly, citing a volatile mix of political instability and growing security threats, including pipeline explosions. In a bold move to restore control, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibas as sole administrator—an unprecedented decision that has triggered fierce debate across the nation.
Wike, who served as governor of the oil-rich state before Fubara, said the situation had spiraled beyond control and warranted decisive action. His call for Fubara’s removal underscores the deep political rivalry that has plagued the state since the beginning of Fubara’s tenure.
What began as a simmering power struggle has erupted into open warfare. Twenty-seven lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), creating a fractured legislature with rival factions and competing speakers—plunging the state into legislative chaos.
As Rivers State navigates a treacherous political storm, the question now is not just about governance, but about survival. With Wike drawing battle lines and the federal government intervening at the highest level, the fate of Rivers hangs in the balance.
