Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has indirectly issued a warning to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, cautioning that Rivers State’s governorship ticket in the 2027 elections is not assured by a sudden statement of support for President Bola Tinubu.
Wike emphasised that prior political agreements must be honoured and stated that claiming to be standing on the president’s mandate cannot render them invalid.
He gave a speech on Sunday at the palace of His Royal Highness Ohna Sergent Awuse, the Paramount Ruler of Emohua and Chairman of the South-South Traditional Rulers Forum, during a special Christmas visit to his supporters in Emohua Local Government Area.
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He reaffirmed his previous stance that once agreements have been made, no one should take him for granted and that he would oppose any attempt to change them.
Wike insisted that support for President Tinubu should not be utilised as a negotiating tactic in Rivers State politics, despite stressing that the president’s reelection for a second term has already been decided.
Read Also: 2023 presidential election: Wike reveals those behind Tinubu’s victory in Rivers
He said, “So, as far as Tinubu’s own is concerned, it’s a settled matter. As far as Tinubu’s own is concerned, it’s a settled matter.
“Anybody who wants to be governor of Rivers State, if you like sing on your mandate, no. Agreement is what, agreement. Agreements is what, agreement.”
He added, “What makes a man is when you agree to something with people, you keep it.
“Nobody can use us to play wayo, nobody. No matter the amount of money you say you have, it will crumble. It will crumble.
“We have done it before, it’s not about whether there’s N600 billion in the account, I’m not interested. What I’m interested in is, keep to agreement. Keep to agreement.
“Nobody should come and be telling me, we are for Tinubu, on your mandate. Who is for Tinubu in Rivers State?
“That cannot give you any ticket o. It cannot.”
Speaking further, the Minister said, “Nobody can intimidate us. Nobody born of a woman can intimidate us. If you like, you can have the billions of dollars. What we will say is what we will do.
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“So, all of you prepare. We must play our role as usual and we must be relevant as usual.”
Wike also took a jab at Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s supporters who recently declared their support for President Tinubu, pointing out that the same group had previously demanded that the seats of Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress, or APC, be declared vacant.
Wike insisted those lawmakers “saw ahead of them.”
The minister repeatedly emphasised that “agreement is agreement,” but he did not specify the nature of the agreement he mentioned or with whom it was made, leaving room for speculation. Political observers have expressed concern about Governor Fubara’s future, particularly his chances of winning a second term after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, to the APC.
