Amid the crisis rocking Rivers State, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has disclosed that his main intention was to outrightly remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and not that State of Emergency be declared in the State.
He however hinged the emergency declaration on the timely intervention of the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wike, while giving a condition for him to forgive Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his estranged political godson and successor, said he would let go of the wrongs Fubara has caused if he genuinely seeks forgiveness.
He stated this during a media parley on Friday in Abuja.
When asked if he would forgive Fubara if he asks for it, Wike replied in the affirmative, saying: “Sincerely.”
Wike and Fubara have locked horns recently with their relationship deteriorating.
The clash between the duo is unconnected with the fierce struggle for control of the state’s political and structural resources.
The rift also tore the state House of Assembly apart, with 27 suspended members defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During the interview, Wike revealed that two governors approached him to resolve the feud between him and Fubara.
Though he didn’t reveal the governors’ names, Wike said he told them he was resolved to make peace with his successor.
“These two governors came to me and I said, ‘look, I am here for peace. What does he want?’ and they said, ‘look, we will do everything.’
“In sincerity, if anybody comes, it must be in sincerity. The best opportunity was when the President intervened,” Wike stated.
The minister also backed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, saying he wanted the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the oil-rich state
But Wike said the president’s move saved Rivers from implosion, arguing that the decision to appoint a sole administrator following Fubara’s suspension was a step in the right direction.
“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.
“The matter is in court but people must say the truth. The governor was gone. It is not on my place to make it good for the governor. As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable and that is why there is power plane,” Wike added.
