Wike Reveals Fubara’s Biggest Mistake as Rivers Political Crisis Takes Fresh Turn
Wike Reveals Fubara’s Biggest Mistake as Rivers Political Crisis Takes Fresh Turn
Nyesom Wike says Siminalayi Fubara’s biggest mistake was trying to operate alone and build his own political structure too early.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, of making a major political mistake by attempting to operate independently and establish a separate political structure shortly after becoming governor of Rivers State.
Wike made the remarks during a special media chat in Port Harcourt, where he revisited the political disagreement between himself and Fubara and explained what he believes went wrong after the 2023 transition of power in Rivers State.
The former Rivers State governor said he expected Fubara to build on the foundation his administration had established, particularly in the area of infrastructure, rather than attempting to distance himself from the political structure that supported his emergence as governor.
According to Wike, Fubara began trying to establish his own political structure less than 100 days after assuming office.
The development, he argued, was too early and contributed to the political crisis that subsequently engulfed the state.
Wike: Fubara Tried to Build His Own Political Structure
At the centre of Wike’s latest comments is his claim that Fubara attempted to create an independent political base almost immediately after taking office.
Wike said politicians must understand the importance of political relationships and should be careful about the people they listen to after gaining political power.
He argued that every political leader has people who genuinely want them to succeed as well as individuals who may have personal ambitions or interests.
According to Wike, Fubara’s alleged decision to disregard the political structure that supported his emergence created the conditions for conflict.
The FCT minister said the political disagreement was not simply about personal differences but also about the structure and direction of political leadership in Rivers State.
The dispute between Wike and Fubara has been one of Nigeria’s most closely watched political battles in recent years. Reports have previously described the disagreement as a struggle involving political influence and control of the state’s political machinery.
Wike Says He Wanted Fubara to Continue His Development Agenda
Wike also explained what he expected from Fubara when he handed over power in 2023.
He said his administration had laid what he considered a strong foundation for infrastructure development and wanted his successor to continue from where he stopped.
According to Wike, his ambition was to position Rivers State to compete more strongly with Lagos State in terms of infrastructure and economic development.
He said he believed Fubara had an opportunity to consolidate the projects already initiated by his administration and use them as a foundation for further development.
Wike recalled that before the handover, he encouraged the incoming governor to examine what had already been achieved and concentrate on taking the state forward.
His argument was that political transitions should not necessarily mean abandoning ongoing projects.
Instead, he believes successive administrations should continue projects that can deliver long-term benefits to residents.
Port Harcourt Ring Road Among Wike’s Major Projects
One of the major infrastructure projects Wike referenced was the Port Harcourt Ring Road.
The multi-billion-naira project was initiated during his tenure as Rivers State governor and was designed to improve road connectivity between parts of the state.
Wike described the project as one of the legacy initiatives he conceived while serving as governor.
The project was part of his broader infrastructure agenda, which he said was designed to improve transportation and stimulate economic activity across Rivers State.
For Wike, infrastructure development was a central component of governance, and he wanted his successor to continue along that path.
He argued that sustained investment in roads and other public infrastructure would help Rivers State strengthen its position as one of Nigeria’s most important economic centres.
Wike Highlights 12 Flyovers Built in Rivers
The former governor also pointed to the construction of 12 flyovers during his administration.
According to Wike, the flyovers were completed and commissioned while he was still governor.
He said the projects improved traffic movement and changed the physical appearance of Port Harcourt and surrounding areas.
The former governor has consistently highlighted infrastructure as one of the defining features of his administration in Rivers State.
His latest comments suggest that he believes the infrastructure programme should have remained a major priority after the 2023 change of government.
Wike said he was focused on delivering projects during his time as governor and expected Fubara to maintain that momentum.
‘We Needed to Compete With Lagos’
Wike’s comparison between Rivers State and Lagos State was another important aspect of his comments.
He said his ambition was to help Rivers State narrow the development gap between the two states.
Lagos has developed a reputation as Nigeria’s leading commercial hub, with substantial investments in transportation, infrastructure, urban development and internally generated revenue.
Wike believes Rivers State has the economic potential to compete more closely with Lagos if its resources are properly managed and infrastructure development is sustained.
He said the political crisis involving his successor ultimately made it more difficult to achieve that objective.
According to the former governor, political leaders should remain focused on governance instead of allowing disagreements to distract them from delivering development to citizens.
Wike Rejects Allegation That He Demanded Money From Fubara
During the media interaction, Wike also addressed allegations that he demanded money from Fubara.
The FCT minister rejected the allegation and argued that accusations of financial demands often emerge when political relationships deteriorate.
Wike questioned why he would need to demand money from Rivers State when he currently oversees the Federal Capital Territory.
He pointed to the size of the FCT budget and said his current position provides him with substantial responsibility and resources to pursue his own development agenda.
According to him, what he wanted from Fubara was not money but political stability and continuity in governance.
Wike said his objective was for Rivers State to remain stable and for the administration to build on the foundation that had already been established.
Wike Says FCT Revenue Has Increased Significantly
Wike also highlighted what he described as progress in the Federal Capital Territory under his administration.
He claimed that the FCT’s internally generated revenue increased from about N8 billion monthly when he assumed office to approximately N40 billion monthly.
Recent reports have also quoted Wike as saying FCT internally generated revenue had risen from around N9 billion to more than N40 billion monthly.
Wike used the figures to reinforce his argument that his attention is focused on governance and delivering results rather than seeking financial benefits from Rivers State.
The minister has frequently linked his FCT agenda to infrastructure development, including roads, public buildings and urban renewal.
In June 2026, Wike announced a 31-day programme of project commissioning in Abuja to mark President Bola Tinubu’s third year in office.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation later reported that the 31-day programme included the inauguration and groundbreaking of roads, bridges, water projects, public buildings and other utilities across the FCT.
Wike Recalls His Focus on Project Delivery
Wike also defended his record as Rivers State governor by recalling the pace of project commissioning and flag-offs under his administration.
He said his government remained focused on infrastructure delivery and did not allow political distractions to derail its agenda.
The former governor referenced the scale of project commissioning and flag-off activities associated with his administration as evidence of what he described as a focused approach to governance.
His comments come as Wike continues to promote infrastructure delivery as one of the main measures of effective leadership.
In the FCT, his administration completed a 31-day project commissioning programme in 2026. The Federal Ministry of Information described the exercise as involving projects across the territory’s six area councils.
The Long-Running Wike-Fubara Political Dispute
The disagreement between Wike and Fubara has attracted national attention because of the political relationship that existed between the two men before Fubara became governor.
Fubara emerged as Rivers State governor in 2023 with the backing of Wike, who had completed two terms as governor and subsequently became FCT minister.
Fubara had also served as Rivers State Accountant-General under Wike.
However, the relationship between the two political figures later deteriorated.
The conflict eventually developed into a wider political struggle involving the Rivers State political structure and competing camps.
A recent report by AIT described the disagreement as a political battle that emerged within the first 100 days of Fubara’s administration, with control of the political machinery becoming one of the major areas of tension.
The dispute has generated different interpretations from supporters of both political camps.
Wike’s latest comments represent his own explanation of the circumstances that led to the breakdown in the relationship.
Why Wike’s Latest Statement Is Significant
Wike’s comments are significant because the relationship between a political predecessor and successor can have a major impact on governance, particularly in states where political structures are strongly influenced by established political networks.
The former governor’s argument is essentially that Fubara should have concentrated on consolidating the political and development foundation inherited from his predecessor.
Fubara’s supporters, however, have offered different perspectives on the political dispute over time.
That means Wike’s claims should be understood within the wider context of the prolonged political disagreement rather than treated as an uncontested account of events.
The larger issue is whether political succession should involve continuity or whether a new governor should be free to develop an independent political identity and structure.
That question extends beyond Rivers State and remains relevant to Nigerian politics generally.
What the Rivers Political Crisis Means for Governance
Political stability is important for any state seeking to attract investment, complete infrastructure projects and improve public services.
Rivers State is particularly significant because of its strategic role in Nigeria’s oil and gas economy and the importance of Port Harcourt as a major commercial centre.
For residents, the most important measure of political leadership remains the quality of governance delivered to the people.
Roads, healthcare, education, security, employment, investment and economic opportunities have a direct impact on citizens regardless of political affiliation.
The continuing debate between Wike and Fubara therefore raises a broader question about whether political disagreements can be separated from the delivery of government services.
Nyesom Wike has identified what he considers to be Siminalayi Fubara’s biggest political mistake: attempting to operate independently and establish a new political structure less than 100 days after becoming governor.
Wike said he expected Fubara to build on the foundation established by his administration and continue major infrastructure projects designed to move Rivers State closer to Lagos in terms of development.
He highlighted the Port Harcourt Ring Road and 12 flyovers among the projects associated with his tenure, while also rejecting allegations that his disagreement with Fubara was motivated by demands for money.
The political dispute between the two men remains a major subject of discussion in Rivers State and Nigerian politics.
While Wike has given his explanation for what caused the breakdown, the competing political narratives surrounding the crisis continue to shape public debate.
Ultimately, Rivers State residents will be most interested in whether the state can maintain political stability, sustain infrastructure development and create better economic opportunities.
The future of Rivers State politics will likely depend not only on the strength of individual political structures but also on the ability of its leaders to place governance and development above prolonged political confrontation.
What Do You Think?
Do you agree with Nyesom Wike that Siminalayi Fubara’s biggest mistake was trying to build his own political structure too early?
Share your opinion in the comment section below.
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