The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has responded to comments by suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who recently declared that he had emotionally detached from his position, saying: “My spirit has left that place.”
Wike, addressing journalists at his monthly press briefing in Abuja on Monday, questioned Fubara’s sincerity and said political statements can often be crafted to stir public sympathy rather than reflect reality.
“How do I know his spirit is not there? We are politicians and we can say things to attract public sympathy,” Wike said. “I’m not carried away by all these things. In reality, how would I know his spirit has left? I don’t know. I’m open for peace.”
Okay.ng reports that the rift between the former Rivers governor and his successor has shaped the political crisis in the state, leading to a declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu in March and Fubara’s subsequent suspension.
Wike stated that while he remains open to reconciliation, Fubara’s actions and the conduct of his supporters contradict the pursuit of genuine peace.
“They were pushing him. Where are the governors now?” Wike asked. “Assuming now you don’t settle this problem and the state of emergency ends, has the problem ended? No. The assembly will still be the same as they have been. So the crisis will still be there. They will not pass your budget, and you won’t get money from the federal allocation.”
He also criticised Fubara’s inability to stabilise his administration early on, pointing to missed opportunities for diplomacy and maturity.
“He made a comment yesterday which I feel for him. He doesn’t need to be under this kind of situation if he had listened to people who put themselves down despite all odds and said no, we will use him,” Wike said.
“Yet, you can’t calm down just within 100 days in office? What kind of pushing will people push you?”
The minister expressed disappointment over the continued demonstrations by Fubara’s supporters, noting that such actions only deepen the crisis rather than support peaceful resolution.
“If you are making peace and your people are demonstrating every day, insulting people, how do you feel about that peace?”
Wike’s latest remarks follow his earlier confirmation that Fubara had visited him alongside two APC governors seeking reconciliation, a move the minister acknowledged but linked to deeper underlying issues that still need to be addressed.
