I never backed emergency rule in Rivers — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has denied supporting the declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State. 

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, disclosed this during a media chat with journalists in Abuja on Monday, June 2. 

He also maintained that he has no personal conflict with Governor Siminalayi Fubara despite escalating political tensions. 

Wike said, “I am not the President who declared a State of Emergency. If Mr. President had called me, I wouldn’t have agreed. I have never supported it.” 

On his relationship with Governor Fubara, Wike said, “I do not have any crisis with him. Rather, the governor, unknown to me, gave himself to be the tool for those who could not fight me, to fight me.” 

Wike said the emergency rule was an interventionist protection for Fubara amid impeachment threats. 

“The declaration was to save the governor because he was almost impeached,” he said. 

When asked about the resolution of the crisis in Rivers State, Wike deferred to presidential authority, saying: “He, Tinubu, knows when to lift it, he has everything on his table. I don’t know.”