Yemi Obafemi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has spoken out on the political crisis in Rivers State, revealing that he had preferred the outright removal of the state governor rather than the declaration of a state of emergency.
The comments come amid ongoing tensions and power struggles in Rivers State, where political divisions have raised concerns about governance and stability.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, made the remarks on Friday in Abuja during a media parley with select journalists, stating that although he was not pleased with the outcome, President Bola Tinubu took the right step to preserve peace and stability in the state.
“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers State. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state,” Wike said.
He further claimed that the governor was effectively “gone” before the president intervened to restore order.
“However, people must tell the truth. The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him,” he added.
Wike expressed strong support for President Tinubu’s actions, stating, “Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’ Mr. President came in and saved the situation, saved Rivers people from that calamity and anarchy.”
