The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that the political troubles facing Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara stem directly from his decision to align with individuals who opposed Wike’s political structure and wanted the governor to fail.
Speaking during a special media chat in Port Harcourt, the former Rivers State governor explained that Fubara’s early political missteps began less than 100 days into his tenure.
According to Wike, the governor allowed himself to be misled by defeated political rivals and ambitious advisers into trying to dismantle the political structure that brought him into power.
Wike highlighted that instead of building upon the foundation laid by his predecessor which was designed to position Rivers State to compete with commercial hubs like Lagos in infrastructure, Fubara chose an antagonistic path.
He noted that those advising the governor to fight him were individuals who had lost out in the governorship race and never wanted Fubara to succeed in the first place.
Addressing allegations that the rift between them was caused by financial demands, the FCT minister dismissed the claims as a classic political strategy used to gain cheap public sympathy.
Wike pointed out that managing the FCT budget which sits at approximately ₦1.8 trillion alongside a monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) that rose from ₦8 billion to ₦40 billion under his leadership leaves him with no reason to seek funds from the state governor.
Wike expressed regret that Fubara lost focus early in his administration by disregarding the political backing that secured his election, arguing that no newly elected leader can survive by burning the bridges that brought them to office.
He added that the governor’s decision to distance himself from his core support system ultimately derailed the development momentum intended for the state.