Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that Governor Siminalayi Fubara will enjoy complete autonomy in managing the affairs of Rivers State, stressing that he has no intention of imposing commissioners or political appointees on his successor.
Wike made the remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, amid renewed debate over his influence in the state’s politics following the end of a six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in March.
“I cannot go and impose anything on the governor. Why would I impose anything on the governor? Assuming I go to the governor and say, ‘I want this,’ will the state collapse? I will not (suggest commissioners for the governor) I have no candidate, and I will not,” Wike said.
The former Rivers governor, who has often been accused of attempting to control his successor, insisted he would not meddle in Fubara’s administration. He added that even if approached by the governor, he would still give him a free hand to lead.
“Even if the governor comes to me now and says, ‘We have agreed we want to work together’ which is natural, I will say ‘Look, I give you free hand, you know how you want for the state’.
“All I would want to say is, I know what I did and what I have done to keep this thing to this level, don’t drop it, move ahead. As I speak to you, I left the state where we can compete favourably with Lagos,” Wike stated.
Governor Fubara was scheduled to return to office on Thursday after the lifting of the emergency rule, but he failed to show up at the Government House. A large crowd that had gathered in anticipation dispersed after waiting for hours.
Responding to concerns, Wike dismissed suggestions that the governor was under obligation to resume immediately.
“There is no law that says he must resume work today. He is the governor, I don’t understand the way we operate. Okay, I was sworn in today but that governor for example does not mean I will go to the office tomorrow.
“You don’t know what my programmes are, you don’t know what the governor has scheduled to do, you don’t know where he is,” he said.
