Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has blamed four close associates of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the prolonged political crisis in the state, accusing them of misleading the governor and frustrating efforts to restore peace.
Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike identified the governor’s Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie; Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Chijioke Ihunwo; former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko Jumbo; and activist Ankio Briggs as the individuals he believes influenced Fubara’s decisions throughout the crisis.
The FCT minister alleged that the four repeatedly gave the governor poor advice, leading him to take actions that deepened the political standoff.
He claimed their counsel also prompted Fubara to abandon agreements reached after the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
Wike maintained that despite the intense political battle, Governor Fubara had emerged as the biggest casualty of the crisis, insisting that the governor suffered the most from the decisions made during the dispute.
“I feel for Governor Siminalayi Fubara because he is the biggest loser,” Wike said, adding that the governor would have been better served by advisers committed to reconciliation rather than confrontation.
The political crisis in Rivers State erupted in 2023 following the breakdown of the relationship between Wike and his successor, Fubara, resulting in a fierce power struggle that split the state’s political structure.
The conflict also triggered divisions in the Rivers State House of Assembly and heightened tensions across the state.
President Bola Tinubu later intervened, brokering a peace agreement aimed at ending the dispute and restoring stability.
Although the intervention briefly eased tensions, disagreements over the implementation of the terms of the agreement have continued to fuel the political crisis.
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