Wike says Fubara is the biggest loser in Rivers State crisis

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said on Saturday that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the biggest loser in the political crisis in the state.

Wike added that the governor lost the chance to serve a second term because he listened to wrong advice from his supporters. He said they deceived him and worsened the crisis in Rivers.

The FCT minister spoke during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He pointed out that Fubara did not preside over the last local government election, which led to the current council chairmen in the 23 LGAs. He also noted that the governor has no control over the state House of Assembly, showing that he is not in charge as governor.

Wike stated, "Impeachment is constitutionally provided but it is used as a political tool. When you have two people quarreling, at a certain stage, you have to surrender. If you don’t surrender, this is what will happen to you. Now you have to weigh the option. For the interest of peace, let us sheathe our swords.

"Impeachment is constitutionally provided for, but you don’t come out every time to say you want to carry out impeachment. That is only done when you see that things are not working very well. Even in that situation, you have to be very careful; there is a process. Remember the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump.

"All these are political tools but provided in the Constitution. A time comes when you discuss the tools. So that is what has happened here. In the interest of peace, look, you give and take."

Wike expressed disappointment that Fubara could not break into the state House of Assembly during the crisis. He said none of the 29 members of the House supported him, nor did any of his supporters.

"Assembly of 29 members, not one was taken away. What does it tell you? You’re a leader, for example, in Okrika, the Assembly member is here. You’re a leader in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government, the Assembly member is not with you. You’re a leader in Khana Local Government, the Assembly member is not with you. You’re a leader in Andoni Local Government, the Assembly member is not with you. You’re a leader in Obio/Akpor, you don’t have one Assembly member.

"You’re running to the governor that we are with you; with you with what? He (Fubara) couldn’t break the Assembly. What does it tell you? Everything is money, money. If it is money, who has the money?

"All these people who surrounded the governor, look at all the fights. What impact or input did they make to help the governor succeed? They were there and a state of emergency was declared. What did they do?

"When I said the governor is losing, what I mean… the governor did not preside over the local government election. He did not. The one he did was nullified by the Supreme Court and they were all sacked. How do you think that, as a governor, I did not superintend over the election? Two, because of some people who surrounded him, giving him advice, the governor did not secure a second term," he said.

The FCT minister continued, "Remember when I flagged off the Ring Road. I flagged off the Ring Road and I said if you complete this Ring Road, nobody will stop your second term. Now, if I had said that, it means that I laid a foundation for you. You know how painful it is. Whether you like it or not, the governor knows what he saw; he knows what he faced. People who advised him did not even know.

"All their interest is fight, fight. What is your contribution to that fight? Let me tell you something. I watch television. I watch people like Ann-Kio Briggs. Each time I watch television and see her talk, I say, look at people who are deceiving the governor. What does she have to contribute to even help the governor?

"I was a governor in this state. I know all these people. In fact, there has been no politician in this state since 1999. I can say I’m the most experienced politician now. All over the world, somebody must control at a particular time. In the United States, there are people now planning that after Donald Trump, we are going to take over. There is no politics in this world where you don’t see a group controlling."

When asked how Fubara is the biggest loser, he said, "If you want me to say the bitter truth, I feel for him. But yes, he is the biggest loser. Yes, he lost because, look at it, God gave you something on a platter of gold. There is no problem; there is no basis. In fact, as a strategist, how would you stay 100 days in office, assuming, as you said, though not conceding, that he is under pressure to bring money? One hundred days in office, and you cannot stomach it.

"Assuming what they are saying is correct, say, ‘Look, I need to go somewhere. I need to make a contribution to the state.’ As it stands now, who is going to lose? The state has lost, I lost. I didn’t want the state to lose. I wanted the state to progress and, as politicians too, you don’t want your own group to lose out. Let nobody deceive you.

"Even those who supported Siminalayi, they said that they cannot allow us to continue to be in power. Politics is not church. Politics is all about power. What you use the power for is a different thing. Whether you use it for the interest of the people or not is a different thing.