I’ll be buried politically if Fubara wins second term – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that his political career would suffer irreparable damage if Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, secures a second term in office.

Wike made the remark on Saturday while addressing stakeholders at a meeting in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Although the FCT minister did not mention the governor by name, he warned that a firm decision had already been taken regarding the 2027 governorship contest.

Wike said: “We have made a decision as far as Tinubu is concerned. The other one (Fubara’s re-election) — 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.

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

The FCT minister has intensified his criticism of Fubara since the governor defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month. Wike accused the governor of violating the terms of a peace agreement reached before the lifting of the emergency rule in the state, which enabled Fubara’s return to office.

Earlier in the week, Wike said what he described as a “leadership mistake” in Rivers would be corrected in 2027, promising to disclose details of the agreement that restored Fubara to power.

“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,” he said, adding that leaders should prioritise the will of the people over personal interests.

At a separate stakeholders’ meeting on Friday in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Wike dismissed suggestions that Fubara’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would guarantee the governor’s re-election.

“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 previous peace agreements.

He warned against assurances that backing Tinubu alone would secure another term for the governor.

“So, whoever is assuring you that everything will be fine once you sign on your mandate, you are mistaken,” he said.

“All of us have decided to work for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There is no discussion about that.” Wike said efforts were underway to avoid repeating past errors.

“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.”

Questioning Fubara’s leadership style, Wike added: “Someone who cannot relate with the local government chairmen, state assembly members and national assembly members — what kind of leadership do you want to provide?”

He also reacted to Fubara’s New Year remarks in which the governor reportedly described Wike’s comments as “noise,” insisting that Fubara owed his emergence as governor to him despite lacking widespread popularity at the time.

“I made him governor even when he was not popular among the people,” Wike said.

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