Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has publicly identified key political figures he claims are working against him in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State**, distancing himself from personal conflict with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Pidgin, released Saturday afternoon, Wike clarified that while tensions remain high in the state, his battle is not directly with Governor Fubara, but rather with **former allies turned adversaries — Celestine Omehia, Abiye Sekibo, and Austin Okpara.
I no get wahala with Fubara. The people wey I dey fight na those wey wan chop where dem no plant — Celestine Omehia, Abiye Sekibo and Austin Okpara,” Wike said in Pidgin.
The former Rivers State governor, who wielded significant influence in bringing Fubara to power, accused the trio of stoking tensions and manipulating the governor into defiance.
Na dem dey push am (Fubara) make e face me. I don defeat dem before, and this time, I go give dem final defeat,” he vowed.
The comments come amid deepening political uncertainty in Rivers, especially following reports that Governor Fubara has tendered an apology to Wike in a bid to ease tensions that have rocked the state’s leadership in recent months.
Fubara was earlier suspended by President Bola Tinubu after a declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, a move widely interpreted as a fallout of the rift between the two political heavyweights.
While Wike continues to wield influence from the federal level, his critics accuse him of attempting to control the Rivers political structure by proxy. The naming of Omehia, Sekibo, and Okpara signals an escalation in the power struggle ahead of key political decisions in the state.
Observers say the battle lines in Rivers State politics are now clearly drawn, with Wike’s latest remarks likely to spark renewed political maneuvering and realignment in the days ahead.
