Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired a warning shot at politicians he described as “emergency” supporters of President Bola Tinubu, declaring that political agreements in Rivers State must be respected, no matter who is shouting loyalty now.
Wike spoke on Sunday while addressing stakeholders in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, where he reminded his audience of who stood firm when it truly mattered.
According to the FCT minister, the Ikwerre ethnic group delivered the decisive votes that secured Tinubu’s victory in Rivers State during the 2023 presidential election and is ready to repeat the show of support in 2027.
“In 2023 when it was difficult and people never knew that Mr President will emerge, all of us from Ikwerre soil said politics is about risk and we know that he will emerge.
“And if you look at the results that made him to win in Rivers State it was the votes particularly from Ikwerre. So let nobody take us for granted, we have said we believe in the mandate when it mattered most and not all these people now coming to shout ‘on your mandate’.”
Wike stressed that true political loyalty is revealed in hard times—not after victory is secured.
“You know characters when things are tough not when the food is ready, we have taken this position when things were tough.”
He also recalled his early stance on power rotation, insisting that support for the South was never about party affiliation.
“I was the first person in PDP to say the South must complete their eight years and it doesn’t matter the party we belong, we will give the President that same support.”
Warning against political opportunism in Rivers State, Wike said agreements reached must be honoured, regardless of latecomers singing loyalty songs.
“Some people were sleeping, now because opposition is dead they are coming to shout ‘on your mandate’, we have shouted ‘on your mandate’. But we have to be vigilant in Rivers, people have to keep to agreement.
“In Rivers agreement is agreement, becoming an emergency singer of ‘on your mandate we shall stand’ won’t help anyone.”
