I Never Backed Emergency Rule In Rivers – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has refuted claims of supporting President Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.

Wike, who made this known during a media chat with selected journalists in Abuja on Monday, maintained that he has no personal conflict with Governor Sim Fubara despite escalating political tensions.

He distanced himself from the presidential move, saying, “I am not the president who declared a state of emergency. If Mr President had called me, I wouldn’t have agreed. I have never supported it.”

On his relationship with Governor Fubara, the former Rivers governor struck a conciliatory yet pointed tone, “I do not have any crisis with him. Rather, the governor, unknown to me, gave himself to be the tool for those who could not fight me, to fight me.”

Wike framed the emergency rule as interventionist protection for Fubara amid impeachment threats.

“The declaration was to save the governor because he was almost impeached,” he said.
When asked about the crisis resolution, the minister deferred to presidential authority: “He, Tinubu, knows when to lift it. He has everything on his table. I don’t know.”