Rivers political crisis: Wike remains Fubara’s leader, says FCT minister’s aide

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to Nyesom Wike, has stated that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister remains a leader to Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Wednesday, Olayinka asserted that Fubara owes his political rise to Wike.

His words: “Fubara is a leader, but leaders have leaders. I am a boy to someone, and others are boys to me. The person I am a boy to is also a boy to somebody.

“Fubara has a leader, and that leader is Nyesom Wike. He made Fubara governor, and that makes him Fubara’s leader.”

Olayinka further accused Fubara of betraying Wike, stressing that it is the root cause of their deteriorating relationship.

The Wike-Fubara feud has been ongoing, despite a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu on December 18, 2023. The agreement, signed at the Presidential Villa, aimed to end the crisis.

However, the truce quickly collapsed, reigniting the power struggle and leading to an impeachment attempt against Fubara.

Wike has ruled out any reconciliation, accusing Fubara’s camp of refusing to implement the president’s directives.

In response, Fubara claimed he was “ambushed” into signing the peace deal, arguing that his camp honoured the agreement by withdrawing court cases, while Wike’s faction failed to do the same.