Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied having a personal conflict with the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, asserting that the governor remains his “son.”
Wike made the remark in an interview published by BBC Pidgin, amid growing speculations of a rift between both men, who were once political allies.
“That one is not a battle,” Wike said. “He (Fubara) is my boy, he is my son. Why will I fight with him?”
Clarifying his stance further, Wike maintained that his political struggle is not with Fubara directly, but with individuals he accused of manipulating the governor for selfish interests. “I’m only fighting against people who want to steal what they did not work for,” he said. “When you don’t defeat them, they will think they are in charge. Defeat them to the final stage. Now, they are ashamed because they are being defeated. They are the ones pushing Fubara.”
The former Rivers State governor also spoke during a media session with selected journalists in Abuja on Monday, where he revealed that Governor Fubara had initiated steps towards reconciliation, following repeated calls for peace by President Bola Tinubu.
“The President has called for peace severally and I cannot sit down when the President has called for peace and I say, ‘I don’t want peace,” Wike stated. “Yes, he came with two governors and one elder person. Unfortunately, the two governors are APC governors. So, I will not pursue him. He said he wants peace. That’s fine. I also want peace.”
Wike’s comments come amid heightened political tension in Rivers State following the suspension of Governor Fubara and continued power tussle involving key stakeholders in the state.