The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, revealing that he had initially wanted Governor Siminalayi Fubara removed from office.
Speaking during a media parley with select journalists on Friday in Abuja, the former Rivers State governor said the president’s intervention saved the state from a total collapse.
Recall that President Tinubu had suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, Dr Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months, following a prolonged political crisis.
He subsequently declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as sole administrator.
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Backing the decision, Wike said the move was necessary to prevent anarchy and that appointing a sole administrator was the right step.
“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.
“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.
“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,” the FCT minister added.
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