Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Friday, Wike expressed discontent with the emergency rule imposed in Rivers State but acknowledged that it prevented Fubara’s ouster.

By Titilope Adako

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has admitted he pushed for the removal of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, but said it was President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency that ultimately spared the governor.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Friday, Wike expressed discontent with the emergency rule imposed in Rivers State but acknowledged that it prevented Fubara’s ouster.

KoikiMedia recalls that Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state legislature, and appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as administrator.

“As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers State,” Wike said. “I wanted the outright removal of Governor Fubara. The president, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara.”

Wike insisted the governor’s position was already untenable before the president intervened.

“The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him,” he said.

“Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”

While stating that he is open to peace talks, Wike claimed that Fubara’s advisers were preventing him from embracing reconciliation.

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