The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he has forgiven Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and revealed that they recently spoke on the telephone.
In an interview with Channels TV this evening, Wike said;
“I can’t speak with a man I’ve not forgiven. As of yesterday (Wednesday), I spoke with the governor. It doesn’t matter who called, but what is important is that we spoke, and he told me he was leaving the next morning. I told him I was leaving to come back that night. So I can tell you peace has come, and see what the assembly did to set the tone today.”
Wike commended President Bola Tinubu for lifting the state of emergency earlier imposed on Rivers, describing the move as a courageous intervention that restored calm.
“I must commend Mr President for lifting the emergency rule in Rivers, so many people, so many people became constitutional experts, senior advocates and analysts because of the so-called emergency rule. I believe so many of the Rivers people are happy because of what Mr President has done. And what did he do? What was the basis of declaring the state of emergency?” Wike asked.
He stressed that he deliberately chose peace over escalation, maintaining consistent communication with Governor Fubara.
“If for us, we don’t want the state of emergency to be lifted, we would have done one or two things, but I said no, for the interest of the state, I was talking with the governor from time to time and he has assured me we can’t go back now, and the President has stabilized the state. Anything that’s for peace I am for it,” Wike said
Finally, the former Rivers governor emphasised his straightforward approach to politics, dismissing suggestions that his reconciliation with Fubara was merely tactical.
“I can’t speak with a man I’ve not forgiven, I don’t play like that. I am not a politician who says one thing here and does another thing. If I tell you we are quarrelling, then we are quarrelling. If I tell you peace has come, then peace has truly come,” Wike declared.