Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has said his political career would suffer irreparable damage if Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State, secures a second term in office.
Wike made the statement on Saturday while addressing stakeholders at a meeting in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to him, a firm decision has already been taken regarding the 2027 governorship election in the state.
“We have made a decision as far as Tinubu is concerned. The other one, no way. Because if we make another mistake, then we will go and bury ourselves politically. I will not allow myself to be buried. I will not allow that mistake again,” Wike said.
He added, “So everybody should know we have made a decision.”
Wike has intensified his criticism of Fubara since the governor defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month. He accused the governor of violating the terms of a peace agreement reached before the lifting of emergency rule in the state, which paved the way for Fubara’s return to office.
Earlier in the week, the FCT minister said what he described as a “leadership mistake” in Rivers State would be corrected in 2027, promising to reveal details of the agreement that restored Fubara to power.
“We will not make the same mistake again at the state level in 2027, but we will talk about it later when the time comes,” he said, adding that leaders should prioritise the will of the people over personal interests.
At a separate stakeholders’ meeting on Friday in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Wike dismissed suggestions that Fubara’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would guarantee the governor’s re-election.
“If you played well with the first one and succeeded, do you think you can succeed with the second one? There cannot be two markets in one day,” Wike said, in a veiled reference to previous peace agreements.
He warned against assurances that backing Tinubu alone would secure another term for the governor.
“So, whoever is assuring you that everything will be fine once you sign on your mandate, you are mistaken,” he said.
Wike further stated, “All of us have decided to work for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There is no discussion about that.”
He said efforts were ongoing to avoid repeating past political errors.
“Of course, you know we won’t make the mistake we made last time. We are here to correct the mistake. We will do all we can to ensure that we give Tinubu all the total support that is required.”
Questioning Fubara’s leadership style, Wike said, “Someone who cannot relate with the local government chairmen, state assembly members and national assembly members — what kind of leadership do you want to provide?”
He also reacted to Fubara’s New Year remarks in which the governor reportedly described Wike’s comments as “noise,” insisting that Fubara owed his emergence as governor to him despite lacking widespread popularity at the time.
“I made him governor even when he was not popular among the people,” Wike said.