As the political tension in Rivers State intensifies, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated he is willing to forgive Governor Siminalayi Fubara—his estranged successor—on one condition: sincerity.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, Wike disclosed that genuine remorse from Governor Fubara would be enough for him to let go of the political fallout that has strained their once close relationship.
Asked if he would forgive Fubara should he seek reconciliation, Wike answered, “Sincerely,” emphasizing that peace could only be achieved if sought in truth.
The rift between Wike and Fubara, widely known, is rooted in the struggle for political and structural control within Rivers State. Their feud has splintered the state House of Assembly, with 27 members defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move widely seen as influenced by the crisis.
Wike also revealed that two unnamed governors had intervened in a bid to mediate the dispute. According to him, “These two governors came to me and I said, ‘look, I am here for peace. What does he want?’… In sincerity, if anybody comes, it must be in sincerity.”
The minister supported President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers—an intervention he admitted prevented the state from descending into anarchy. “As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers State. I wanted the outright removal of the governor,” Wike said.
While the matter is now in court, Wike maintained that his political duty is not to make things easier for Governor Fubara, signaling that any reconciliation would require a deliberate and honest effort from the governor himself.
Battle of freedom or Battle for control