The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday faulted Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara for declaring himself the “001” of the state.
Wike downplayed claims that the governor is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Fubara had made the declaration after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
During his registration with the APC in the state, he was assigned 001 on his membership.
However, speaking during his end-of-the-year media chat in Port Harcourt, monitored by our correspondent, Wike said, “He (Fubara) decamped to APC with whom? What is 001? Let me tell you, there’s nothing like 001 in the state.
“You register in your ward and local government, so if you are 001, it’s in your ward.
“There’s nothing like 001. There’s nothing like what I have registered in the state as 001. Everybody registered in their own ward. You could be the first person to register, but that’s not your position.”
On Fubara being the leader of the party in Rivers State, Wike said, “I don’t know about that because if he says so, who is the leader of APC in Lagos state?
“So, there are some exceptions to the rule, so let’s not go into other things. See, leadership is not because I’m a governor. Leadership is not because I’m a minister. You must have something that makes you a leader.”
Wike said his defection came too late and without any political structure to strengthen his new party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said before Governor Fubara’s decision to leave the PDP, about 22 local government chairmen in the state and nearly half of the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had already defected to the APC.
The minister said, “As a governor, he has the State Assembly to move with, he has the council chairmen, the party chairmen, and members of the National Assembly to move with. But in this case, with whom did he move? These people decided to move on their own,” he said.
“Shouting ‘on your mandate we shall stand’ does not imply automatic ticket. It doesn’t mean that,” Wike said.
He also dismissed claims that there was any fanfare at Government House on the day Governor Fubara defected to the APC, insisting that proper procedure must be followed when joining a new party.
Wike further revealed that whenever he decides to leave the PDP, his loyalists across several states would follow him, insisting that leadership is demonstrated by the ability to mobilize followers.
Reacting to Fubara’s earlier remark that those supporting President Tinubu should not do so “corner by corner,” Wike said he has been one of the most criticized ministers in the current administration because of his open support for the President.
“Nigerians know that in 2023, I supported the President. I didn’t hide it. If I were doing ‘corner corner,’ Assembly members and National Assembly members would not have gone with me. That is leadership,” he said.
Wike expressed confidence that the PDP would not win the FCT in the next election, citing the policies and performance of President Tinubu.
On the alleged breakdown of the peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in Rivers State, Wike blamed Governor Fubara, accusing him of failing to keep to his part of the truce and being economical with the truth regarding his relationship with the leadership of the State Assembly.
“What stops you from calling the Speaker to ask how he is, or calling members of the Assembly to wish them a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year? You don’t have to wait for me to tell you to do that,” Wike said.
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