Wike Reveals Fubara’s Biggest Mistakes as Rivers Governor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara made critical political mistakes shortly after assuming office by attempting to operate independently and establish his own political structure instead of strengthening the platform that brought him to power.

Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike said he was surprised that Fubara began making moves to create a separate political base less than 100 days after taking office as governor.

According to the former Rivers State governor, the decision suggested that Fubara failed to appreciate the political support and structure that helped him emerge as governor.

Wike said that before leaving office, he had expected his successor to continue ongoing projects and build on the foundation already laid for the state’s development.

He explained that his administration initiated major infrastructure projects, including the multi-billion-naira Port Harcourt Ring Road, which connects several local government areas and had already commenced before he handed over power.

He also recalled that his government completed 12 flyovers across Port Harcourt and its surrounding areas, adding that the projects improved transportation and transformed the city’s landscape.

Wike said his goal was to position Rivers State to compete with Lagos in terms of infrastructure and development, but he believes the political crisis disrupted that vision.

The FCT minister stated that political leaders must carefully evaluate the advice they receive, noting that some people genuinely want a leader to succeed while others may have different intentions.

He said individuals who never supported a leader’s emergence should not be expected to work for that leader’s success once in office.

According to Wike, some people close to Fubara encouraged him to distance himself from those who supported his political journey, creating unnecessary divisions within the ruling camp.

He maintained that the governor’s attempt to establish a new political structure shortly after taking office eventually triggered the disagreements that later developed into the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State.

Wike also dismissed allegations that he demanded money from Fubara during their disagreement, describing such claims as common accusations that often surface whenever political allies fall out.

He questioned why he would seek financial benefits from the Rivers governor when, as FCT minister, he manages one of the country’s largest public budgets.

The minister noted that the Federal Capital Territory currently operates a budget of about ₦1.8 trillion and said the territory’s internally generated revenue has grown from about ₦8 billion monthly when he assumed office to approximately ₦40 billion.

He insisted that his only expectation was for Fubara to maintain political stability in Rivers State and continue the development projects started by his administration.

Wike added that the political crisis widened the development gap he had hoped Rivers State would close with Lagos, insisting that greater focus on governance rather than political disagreements would have produced better results for the state.