The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has unequivocally ruled out the possibility of mending fences with Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara. Wike’s remarks, made during a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, highlight ongoing tensions between the two political heavyweights.
The discord stems from the fallout of an eight-point peace agreement brokered in 2023 by President Bola Tinubu during a crucial meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The agreement, aimed at resolving the crisis between Wike and Fubara’s camps, has since unraveled. Governor Fubara later alleged that he was pressured into signing the accord, a claim that further widened the rift.
Wike Accuses Fubara of Undermining Presidential Directive
At the briefing, Wike criticized Fubara and his allies for failing to honor the directives laid out by President Tinubu during the peace meeting. He argued that Fubara’s camp should have sought further clarification from the president if they were unable to fully implement the terms of the agreement.
“I’m wondering, what conflict to resolve?” Wike questioned. “Mr. President, in his wisdom, called all parties and outlined the steps to resolve the problem. He said, ‘Withdraw the impeachment notice. You go and do this; you go and do that.’ Everyone agreed to it.”
According to Wike, the Rivers State House of Assembly complied with Tinubu’s directive by withdrawing an impeachment notice, but Fubara’s camp allegedly derailed the process by taking other matters to court.
Wike added, “Have you gone back to Mr. President to tell him, ‘This assignment you gave us—we’ve done one and two, but we can’t do three and four. Can you call us back to find a solution?’ I have never seen this in my life—for a president to call parties, and one party turns around to claim it’s political, unconstitutional, and non-binding. Who does that?”
Power Struggle at the Heart of the Conflict
The feud between Wike and Fubara reportedly centers on the control of Rivers State’s political and economic resources. The conflict escalated shortly after Fubara assumed office as governor, despite being Wike’s political protégé.
Observers believe the inability to resolve these differences threatens to destabilize Rivers State’s political landscape further. While Wike maintains his position against reconciliation, the fallout from the dispute continues to ripple across the state’s political sphere.
For now, the possibility of President Tinubu intervening again remains uncertain, leaving the state embroiled in a deepening crisis.
