Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has outlined clear conditions for any meaningful reconciliation with his former ally, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking on Friday, April 25, during the platinum jubilee celebration of Hon. Ken Chikere in Port Harcourt, Wike addressed the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. While expressing a willingness to embrace peace, he insisted it must be sincere and inclusive.
“We are men of peace, not troublemakers. But it must be peace built on sincerity, not used as a smokescreen,” he said. “Peace must involve all stakeholders—State Assembly members, National Assembly representatives, and the two major political parties.”
Wike also called out elder statesmen in the state for remaining silent amid the crisis, accusing them of inaction and indirectly enabling the situation. He criticized what he described as “media blackmail,” saying such tactics only deepen the divide.
“No amount of embarrassment or blackmail will bring peace. Only humility and a true commitment to the state’s interest can do that,” he stressed.
Addressing swirling rumours about his health, Wike denied reports that he had collapsed and was flown abroad for treatment. He clarified that his recent trip overseas was to attend his son’s graduation, not for medical reasons.
“I’m here, and I’m very well,” he declared. “People said I collapsed. I was never sick. And even if I were, am I not human? Those wishing others to fall will be the ones to fall—permanently.”
Wike’s remarks come amid a continued rift with Governor Fubara, whom he once backed in the 2023 election but has since clashed with over governance issues.
See also Six Kuje inmates graduate with degrees from NOUN Six inmates at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja have earned university degrees through the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), marking a major milestone in prison education and rehabilitation. The Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, said the inmates completed their programmes while still in custody, describing the achievement as proof that education can reform lives and prepare inmates for reintegration into society, The Cable reported According to NCoS spokesperson Samson Duza, two of the inmates bagged master’s degrees in peace studies and conflict resolution, while four earned bachelor’s degrees in peace studies and conflict resolution, political science, criminology, and security studies. Represented by Deputy Controller-General Amos Kupan, Nwakuche stressed that incarceration should not end personal growth, adding that the service remains committed to providing educational and skill-building opportunities for inmates. The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Jen, congratulated the graduates and urged them to use their qualifications as tools for positive change after their release. Also speaking, Francis Enobore, Director of NOUN’s Special Study Centre, described the institution’s long-standing partnership with the correctional service as a “pathway of hope,” noting that learning restores dignity and purpose. Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Abba Kyari thanked both NOUN and the NCoS, saying the opportunity renewed their sense of direction. The ceremony also featured counselling sessions focused on re-entry, skills development, and community reintegration, with the graduates pledging to contribute meaningfully to society upon release.
