Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied backing the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Wike, who previously served as governor of Rivers State, made the statement during a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, June 2.
He also clarified that he has no personal conflict with the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, despite rising political tensions.
“I am not the President who declared the State of Emergency. If Mr. President had consulted me, I wouldn’t have agreed. I have never supported it,” Wike said.
Regarding his relationship with Governor Fubara, Wike remarked, “I do not have any crisis with him. Rather, the governor, unbeknownst to me, allowed himself to be used as a tool by those who could not confront me directly.”
Wike described the emergency rule as an intervention meant to protect Governor Fubara from looming impeachment threats.
“The declaration was to save the governor because he was almost impeached,” he added.
When asked about the resolution of the crisis in Rivers State, Wike deferred to President Tinubu’s discretion, stating:
“Tinubu knows when to lift it; he has all the information. I don’t know.”
