*I’m Open To Forgiveness
*I Played Critical Role In Diri Becoming Governor
*PDP Not Ready For 2027 Elections
THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara should thank President Tinubu for saving him by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, disclosing that he (Wike) wanted to have him impeached.
“I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the President did the right thing to prevent anarchy,” he stated.
In an interview with select journalists in Abuja on Friday, April 18, the former governor, while expressing support for emergency rule in his state, which led to the suspension of Fubara, his Deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and members of the house of Assembly for an initial six months, and appointment of former naval chief, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), as Sole Administrator, insisted that Tinubu saved Fubara from outright removal. for the state.
Wike said Fubara “had gone,” but for the President intervention through emergency rule, noting: “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.
“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 matter is in court, but people must say the truth. The governor was gone. It is not my place to make it good for the governor. As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable, and that is why there is a power play.”
He disclosed that two governors had approached him to help resolve the rift between him and Fubara, noting: “Two governors came to me and I said, ‘Look, I am here for peace. What does he want?,’ and they said, ‘Look, we will do everything.
“In sincerity, if anybody comes, it must be in sincerity. The best opportunity was when the President intervened.”
Wike said he was open to forgiveness if Fubara apologises over the political crisis in the state.
But he asked rhetorically: “Has anybody approached anybody? I don’t like people who are hypocrites. I have told him to mention an elder in Rivers running around the governor who has taken steps to achieve peace?
“At the end of the day, if we don’t achieve anything, we will still go back to square one, which does not make sense.
“The day Mr. President intervened, the Assembly people immediately withdrew the impeachment notice. I’m open to forgiveness if he comes sincerely.”
In a related development, the minister said he played a critical role in the election of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, saying the governor cannot deny it.
On his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he doubted its readiness for the 2027 elections, saying it does not have a formidable structure to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“The PDP is not ready for the 2027 election. It is very obvious. For instance, I have an examination and I am going to class to read. Indeed, am I reading? Am I studying?
“You don’t need to deceive anybody that you are reading. You are only trying to read so that people will see that you have carried your bag to class.
“That is the situation of the PDP. So, they cannot say for sure that they are ready for 2027. Power struggle cannot help the party.”
