Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has firmly responded to remarks by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, amid the political crisis brewing in the state.
Wike, who served as governor before Fubara, recently criticized his successor for lending support to the Action Peoples Party (APP), a party he considers inferior to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
At a civic reception organized by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress in Port Harcourt, Wike boasted about his role in Fubara’s political rise, stating that God had used him to make Fubara, an Ijaw man, the governor of the state.
He also claimed credit for ongoing projects and the strong PDP structure in Rivers.
“Who has Fubara made?” Wike asked rhetorically. “I have made an Ijaw man governor of Rivers State. God used us. So, who loves Ijaw more? These are people we have defeated politically several times. If the opportunity comes again, we will defeat them again.”
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Fubara responded on Sunday at an inter-denominational thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Port Harcourt.
In a measured but firm statement, he emphasized that Rivers State is not the domain of any individual. “Rivers State is nobody’s enterprise,” Fubara declared, stressing that unity and cooperation are critical to the state’s development.
He further addressed claims of dominance, stating, “If I stand for a nation where no one is oppressed, I cannot be part of oppressing anyone. By the special grace of God, no one can oppress me.”
In a subtle rebuke to his predecessor, Fubara highlighted the need to move past political rivalries for the sake of the state’s future.
“A few of our decisions might not be favorable, but we have to move on as a family,” he said. “The most difficult stage is behind us. What’s important now is to protect the soul of this state.”
Calling for resilience, Fubara urged citizens to “stand strong and fight” to preserve the interests of Rivers State, positioning himself as a leader focused on unity rather than division.
The exchange underscores the simmering tension between the current and former governors as they navigate the state’s shifting political landscape.