The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says he wanted Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State removed from office, but praised President Bola Tinubu for opting to declare a state of emergency instead.
Wike spoke during a media chat in Abuja on Friday, where he said Nigerians should be thankful to Tinubu for saving Rivers from deeper political crisis.
“As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers State. I wanted the outright removal of Governor Fubara. The president, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara,” Wike said.
He added, “Every morning, people should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, has been in a long-standing political battle with Fubara over the control of the state’s structure.
The conflict led to President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on March 18, 2025, and the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly for six months.
Tinubu had said the decision was based on Section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution, and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to oversee the state’s affairs.
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