Supporting Tinubu won’t save Fubara, says Wike

*As FCT minister says governor’s second term will mean his political burial

Wike resumed open attack on Fubara after the governor defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says his political career would be ruined if Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, secures a second term.

Speaking on Saturday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Okrika LGA of Rivers state, Wike said a decision has been made on Fubara’s second term ambition.

“We have made a decision as far as Tinubu is concerned. The other one [Fubara] — no way. Because if we make another mistake, then we will go and bury ourselves politically. I will not allow myself to be buried. I will not allow that mistake again,” he said.

“So everybody should know we have made a decision.”

Wike resumed open attack on Fubara after the governor defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month.

The FCT minister accused Fubara of breaching the peace agreement reached before the lifting of the emergency rule in Rivers, which paved the way for him to return to office.

On Tuesday, Wike said the “leadership mistake” in Rivers will be corrected in 2027 and promised to reveal the details of the peace agreement that returned Fubara to power.

The FCT minister, in a veiled reference to Fubara, said leaders are meant to serve the people’s will rather than pursue personal interests.

“We will not make the same mistake again at the state level in 2027, but we will talk about it later when the time comes,” Wike said.

On Friday, while addressing stakeholders in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of the state, Wike said Fubara’s support for Tinubu would not help him secure re-election, noting that he had backed Tinubu even before the governor joined the APC.

“If you played well with the first one and succeeded, do you think you can succeed with the second one? There cannot be two markets in one day,” Wike said, in a veiled reference to the peace agreements signed with Fubara.

“So, whoever is assuring you that everything will be fine once you sign on your mandate [Tinubu’s political signature song], you are mistaken.

“All of us have decided to work for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There is no discussion about that.

“Of course, you know we won’t make the mistake we made last time. We are here to correct the mistake. We will do all we can to ensure that we give Tinubu all the total support that is required.

“Someone [Fubara] who cannot relate with the local government chairmen, state assembly members, and national assembly members. What kind of leadership do you want to provide?”

Wike also responded to Fubara’s New Year remark, in which the governor dismissed his recent comments as “noise”.

Wike said he made Fubara governor despite Fubara not being popular among the people.