RismadarVoice Reporters, August 4, 2026
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he wanted Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to contest for a second term in office, insisting that he and his political associates still have affection for the governor.
Wike made the remarks during his monthly media chat while reflecting on his political relationship with Fubara and the crisis that had previously divided their camp.
The relationship between Wike and Fubara deteriorated after the governor assumed office in 2023, leading to a prolonged political dispute between the two camps. The differences were later followed by a reconciliation.
Speaking about Fubara’s political future, Wike recalled an earlier statement he made while inaugurating the Rivers State Ring Road project.
“We don’t like the truth. I flagged off the ring road, and I said that day that if you complete this road, nobody will stop your second term. How do you endorse somebody more than that?” Wike said.
Asked whether he genuinely wanted Fubara to secure a second term, the former Rivers governor replied in the affirmative.
“That’s right. You have to build a system, and he’s from our political structure,” he said.
Wike explained that belonging to a political structure did not necessarily mean that its leader should be regarded as a godfather.
“There is nowhere in this world, be it in the Republican or Democrat, where you have groups to talk about the party. Every group will have its own leader, but that does not make you a godfather,” he said.
He suggested that the political dispute ultimately affected Fubara’s ambition to seek another term.
“At the end of the fight, I have not lost anything, but you have lost because you intended to go for a second tenure, but you are not going,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister maintained that he still cares about Fubara and expressed disappointment that the governor would not be seeking another term.
“Those of us who love you, Fubara, feel so bad. If I don’t love him, why will I support him? That’s the point that I’m making. Of all these things, who has lost?” he said.
