Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has expressed profound sorrow over what he perceives as a betrayal by Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers State, emphatically declaring “Fubara betrayed me.”
In a media chat on Monday, Wike revealed that he often finds himself in tears when reflecting on Fubara’s actions, stating, “I weep whenever I remember how Fubara betrayed me.”
Wike, a former Governor of Rivers, who played a significant role in the now suspended Fubara’s political ascent, accused his supposed political god-son of aligning with adversaries to undermine his influence.
He lamented, “He gave himself as a tool for those who could not fight me directly.” Drawing a poignant analogy, Wike likened the situation to a son conspiring with armed robbers against his father, emphasizing the depth of his disappointment.
The minister, sometimes seen as a cantankerous personality, also addressed allegations that he demanded substantial sums from Fubara, claiming, “You turned it into that I’m asking for N20 billion, and N100 billion. You told lies against me. I brought you up, put you here and there.”
Despite the rift, Wike indicated a willingness to reconcile, provided Fubara demonstrates genuine intent. “I have said I want peace but you must show that the peace you want is genuine and you must have taken steps,” he stated.
The fallout between Wike and Fubara has significantly impacted politics and governance in Rivers State, leading to divisions within the state assembly and prompting federal intervention.
In March, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending Fubara and appointing a sole administrator, Ibok Ibas, a retired Naval Chief to restore order, in a decision that threw up pandemonium and what many legal experts had described as constitutional crisis in the oil-rich state, located in the Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.
