The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has fired a fresh political missile at Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that no amount of money, including a reported ₦600 billion war chest, can save him from defeat in the 2027 governorship election.Politics
Wike made the explosive declaration on Wednesday during a thank-you visit to Tai Local Government Area, warning that political power in Rivers has never been bought with money but earned through the will of the people.
In a scathing attack on his estranged political godson, the former Rivers governor insisted that access to state funds would not translate into electoral victory.
“We are battle ready. We were the original ‘mandate’ people. Don’t deal with people who cannot keep to agreements and then tell you it is politics. That kind of politics will not work here again.
“If they like, let them keep all the money, whether they have N600bn or not.
We have defeated people with money before. We will still defeat people with money. What matters is the people; it is not money,” he said.
Wike accused Governor Fubara of betraying agreements reached during a peace and reconciliation meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu in June, describing the alleged breach as a major trust violation that has worsened Rivers State’s political crisis.
According to him, the governor dishonoured commitments made directly before President Tinubu, adding that the full details of the agreement would soon be made public.
“After agreeing on something, you renege. And you think you are a smart politician? You are clever by half.
“Very soon, we will let Rivers people know what we agreed to before Mr. President. This agreement was not done anywhere else; it was done before Mr President. If you can renege on what we agreed to before Mr. President, then who are we?” Wike asked.
The FCT minister reiterated that his political camp is determined to “correct the mistake” of the 2023 governorship election, declaring that his supporters are already mobilised to reclaim control of Rivers State.Politics
He dismissed claims that Governor Fubara’s grip on state machinery or finances would intimidate the opposition, insisting that loyalty, structure, and grassroots support, not cash, will decide the next election.
Wike also praised the people of Tai Local Government for standing with President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general election, noting that their political courage had been rewarded with federal appointments, key infrastructure projects, and the establishment of the Federal University of Environment in the area.
The renewed war of words comes months after President Tinubu hosted Wike, Fubara, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly at the State House, Abuja, in June 2025, in a bid to resolve the prolonged political crisis rocking the state.
The crisis, rooted in a bitter power struggle between Wike and his successor, had plunged Rivers into months of political tension and institutional paralysis, culminating in a state of emergency and the suspension of the governor and lawmakers.
Despite public pledges by both camps to embrace peace after the Abuja meeting, hostilities have persisted, with cracks widening ahead of 2027.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has clarified that its controversial ₦100,000 Christmas bonus was paid to all civil servants, public office holders, and pensioners without discrimination.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo, said the payment, which lawmakers had earlier rejected as unconstitutional and extra-budgetary, has been an annual practice for the past three years.
Sirawoo explained that the bonus was disbursed across board to workers captured on the state payroll, adding that the Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress had commended the gesture.
“Workers remain the greatest pride of the Rivers State Government’s development agenda,” he said.