Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has spoken publicly on the political crisis rocking Rivers State and the failed peace move between him and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike disclosed that the controversial agreement reached with Governor Fubara was not a private arrangement.
He said it was formally endorsed by top national figures under the supervision of President Bola Tinubu.
The former Rivers governor revealed that senior government officials and respected political leaders were present when the agreement was signed.
He said their involvement showed that the deal was meant to restore peace and political stability in the state.
Wike made the remarks during a political gathering in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State. He addressed supporters and party loyalists, where he spoke extensively on events that led to the prolonged crisis.
According to him, the meeting with President Tinubu produced a clear understanding accepted by all parties involved.
He stated that the agreement later collapsed after Governor Fubara returned to Rivers State and began receiving different advice from unnamed political actors.
“There was a time we met with Mr President and everyone signed the agreement. Even the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, signed. Peter Odili also signed,” Wike said.
He explained that the breakdown of trust happened shortly after the meeting. He alleged that Governor Fubara was persuaded to abandon the agreement under the excuse that it was purely political.
“But after they returned home, some people began to mislead the young man, telling him it was political and that he should not follow through. That was how the crisis dragged on and ended up in court, where we won clearly.”
Wike stated that the legal victory did not end the matter. He said President Tinubu again stepped in to prevent further damage to governance and political harmony in Rivers State.
He revealed that several governors, ministers, and senior lawyers reached out to him. They appealed for a fresh attempt at peace. He admitted he was initially reluctant due to previous experiences with broken agreements.
“They assured me it would be different this time. After several meetings with Governor Fubara, we reached a new agreement and presented it again before Mr President. Everyone committed to implementing it.”
The FCT minister also used the occasion to criticise the Peoples Democratic Party. He said the party had controlled Rivers State for years but lost its dominance during the 2023 general elections.
Wike claimed that the All Progressives Congress made significant inroads in the state after he and his political allies supported President Tinubu. He alleged that the PDP performed poorly at the polls.
He insisted that the opposition party failed to secure up to 10 per cent of the total votes cast in Rivers State during the presidential election.
Mfonobong Daniel is a seasoned writer and news reporter with over 5 years of experience in digital media. Beyond politics, he is a lover of books and has a strong penchant for creative writing.