The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that the political tensions between him and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara have been resolved, urging residents and political stakeholders to embrace reconciliation for the state’s progress.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike said Rivers had suffered the most from the prolonged political dispute and stressed that both leaders are now committed to working together.
The political relationship between Wike and Fubara, once close allies, deteriorated not long after Fubara assumed office as governor in 2023. The fallout sparked a fierce power struggle that divided the state’s political class.
The crisis escalated as lawmakers aligned with Wike repeatedly sought to impeach Fubara, prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in Rivers. The political atmosphere later eased after Fubara left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reflecting on the events, Wike said Fubara erred by attempting to establish an independent political structure shortly after taking office but noted that both sides had now chosen reconciliation over continued conflict.
“As far as the state is concerned, peace and unity are all we want. We must work together, and we are now working together with the governor,” Wike said.
He admitted that mistakes were made during the political crisis and emphasised that the experience had shown all parties the damage caused by prolonged disagreements.
“We have made our mistakes,” he said.
“We have realised that it is not in the interest of the state. Therefore, people should encourage this reconciliation and not ask, ‘Why did the governor do this?’ Those who make such comments do not mean well for Rivers state.”
According to the former governor, the political battle produced no winners, insisting that Rivers State bore the greatest consequences.
“You should ask yourself a simple question: during all these fights, who lost?” he asked.
“It was the state that lost. So why would anyone want the state to continue to lose?”
Wike praised the willingness of both camps to make concessions, describing forgiveness and sacrifice as essential qualities of leadership.
“When someone has made a sacrifice and said, ‘Let bygones be bygones; let’s work together,’ that gesture should be appreciated,” he said.
“Some of us are not extremists. If I say I forgive you, I forgive you.”
To consolidate the peace process, Wike disclosed that a committee had been established to engage political stakeholders across the state and encourage broader participation in reconciliation efforts.
“We have set up a committee to reach out to everybody,” he said.
“The objective is to ensure that everyone is carried along in the effort to build a united and prosperous Rivers State.
“If you want to play politics today, it is the Rainbow Coalition. Forget whatever anybody tells you; you cannot win without bringing people together.”
He maintained that the future of Rivers should take priority over partisan interests.
“It is not about the APC, it is not about the PDP, it is not about the Labour Party, and it is not about any other group,” Wike said.
“Let us join hands together for the interest of the state because that is what will help us move forward.”
The FCT minister also commended President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, saying it has brought positive outcomes for both Rivers State and the country.
“The leadership of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is good for us and good for Nigeria,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the state’s future, Wike said the restored peace would allow Fubara to focus fully on governance and deliver meaningful results.
“With what the governor has done, I can tell you that in the next one year, you will see a lot of improvement in this state,” he said.
“Nobody can govern effectively where there is no peace. Nobody can govern where there is no unity.
“Now the governor’s mind is at rest and he can concentrate on his work.
“Even if he has just six months, he can still make significant changes and leave a meaningful impact.”
He added that the reconciliation had weakened the influence of individuals who benefit from political divisions.
“With what we have done now, all those opportunists will no longer have the chance to divide the state further,” he said.
“It is unity forever. Let us work together, let us remain together, and let us build Rivers State for the benefit of all.”
The renewed alliance comes after Fubara publicly backed the Rainbow Coalition, the political platform championed by Wike in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid in Rivers State.
At the inauguration of the Rivers Medical Industries project in Port Harcourt on July 22, Fubara also endorsed APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda, a close ally of Wike, as his preferred successor.
Fubara had initially participated in the APC governorship screening alongside Chinda but later withdrew from the race, saying the decision was made willingly in the interest of sustaining peace and unity in Rivers State. Meanwhile, several aspirants believed to be loyal to the governor were reportedly disqualified from the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries, while candidates aligned with Wike were cleared to contest.
