Wike

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has said he deliberately chooses to appear “weak” in order to sustain peace and stability in the state.

The governor spoke on Friday in Lagos while receiving the 2025 Man of the Year Award presented by New Telegraph.

During his remarks, which focused on the burden of leadership, political disputes, and reconciliation, Fubara dedicated the honour to his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“I do not care how you interpret it or misinterpret it. I also dedicate this award to somebody who discovered me, not minding the situation — the honourable minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike,” he said.

“He discovered me, and it is the discovery that gave me this loudness. Today is a very special day, and also special for everyone who has believed in me, and I know that for believing in me, you have a share of special pain.

“Some people have described these pains as weakness, while others say it is being strong. But I choose to be weak for a lot of reasons, weak because I want peace. Weak because we need to survive.

“Weak because I need to also protect those things that are dear, not just to me, but to our dear nation. Weakness is a virtue. It pays at the right time.”

Fubara thanked his family and residents of Rivers State for their patience and composure despite the prolonged political crisis in the state.

The development comes amid efforts to ease tensions between the executive arm and the Rivers State House of Assembly. Recently, President Bola Tinubu intervened and facilitated a truce between both sides after months of political strain, impeachment threats, and divisions within the legislature. Many lawmakers in the assembly are known allies of Wike.

The rift between the two political figures has played out publicly in recent months. Wike had opposed Fubara’s re-election ambition. He accused the governor of failing to honour an earlier peace agreement reached before the lifting of emergency rule in the state.

Earlier in the week, the FCT minister expressed optimism that the crisis between the executive and legislative arms would be resolved permanently following the president’s intervention.

Peace conditions linked to the dispute had earlier surfaced. One of the demands was the reinstatement of Sergeant Awuse, traditional ruler of Emohua kingdom, as chairman of the state’s council of traditional rulers. Fubara removed Awuse from the position in June 2024 and replaced him with Chike Worlu Wodo. Another demand involved the nomination of new commissioners.

In a fresh move, the governor dissolved the Rivers State Executive Council on Thursday. A day later, he forwarded a list of commissioner nominees to the state assembly for screening and confirmation.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has thrown its weight behind a naval officer who stood his ground against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during a recent confrontation in the Gudu district of Abuja.

The incident, which was captured on video, showed the minister engaged in a heated argument with the officer, who was preventing the FCT team from accessing a disputed piece of land.

In a statement released on Wednesday by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the military high command commended the officer’s conduct.

The statement emphasized the importance of serving the nation with “honesty, integrity, and honour,” while adhering to orders with discipline and respect.

“It is a virtue to serve the nation with honesty and integrity. The military encourages any officer who stands to protect the dignity of the nation and its laws with honour,” the DHQ stated.

The land in question is reportedly owned by the immediate-past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd).

The confrontation has highlighted ongoing tensions over land disputes in the capital city.

Security and government authorities are said to be investigating the incident to establish the full facts and prevent any further friction between civil ministries and the armed forces.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has condemned the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his public confrontation with a soldier, calling it a threat to national security that requires an apology.

Buratai’s statement comes after videos circulated online showing Wike in a heated argument with military personnel over a disputed plot of land in Abuja on Tuesday.

He described the minister’s “verbal assault on a uniformed officer” as a profound act of indiscipline that undermines the nation’s command structure and disrespects the authority of President Bola Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief.

“The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less,” Buratai stated, insisting Wike must immediately apologise to both the President and the officer involved.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has launched scathing corruption allegations against his political rival and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of enriching his family through government agencies.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike vehemently denied Amaechi’s recent claims of disliking money while portraying his wife as merely a businesswoman.

Wike labelled Amaechi a “liar” and alleged systematic corruption.Wike’s key accusations include:

1.NDDC Payments: Claiming Amaechi’s wife received ₦4 billion monthly for one year, totaling ₦48 billion, from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

2.Contract Facilitation:Asserting that as Minister of Transportation, Amaechi facilitated government contracts for his wife within agencies under his ministry – specifically the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

3.Agencies’ Debt Motive: Suggesting Amaechi’s recent mention of NPA and NIMASA owing contractors stemmed from debts owed to his wife’s companies.

4.Rolls Royce Gift: Condemning Amaechi for allegedly accepting a Rolls Royce as a gift from a contractor working for Rivers State in 2014.

Wike challenged President Bola Tinubu to release a forensic audit report on the NDDC, vowing it would expose Amaechi’s wife’s dealings.

He staked his position, declaring, “should the allegations be found untrue, he is ready to resign as FCT Minister.”

These accusations mark a significant escalation in the long-running feud between the two prominent Rivers State politicians. Amaechi is yet to publicly respond to these specific claims.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu convened a high-stakes reconciliation meeting on Thursday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, aiming to resolve the political turmoil in Rivers State.

The closed-door session included Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and other lawmakers.

This comes after President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on March 18, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the entire State House of Assembly.

The discussions focused on restoring stability in the oil-rich state, though details of the agreement remain undisclosed.

By Anwar Usman

Officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration, under the leadership of Minister Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have sealed the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)A group of FCTA staff, locked the entrance gate of Wadata Plaza, the PDP’s national secretariat at exactly 2:06 pm, alocated in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

This action follows the recent announcement by the FCTA on Sunday, stating its intention to reclaim properties affected by the revocation of 4,794 land titles due to non-payment of ground rent spanning 10 to 43 years.

Details later…

By Anas Abbas

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has expressed concerns that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risks losing the 2027 presidential election to President Bola Tinubu unless it revises its zoning system.

During a live media interaction on Monday, Wike highlighted the party’s failure to adhere to its constitutional guidelines regarding the zoning of both the Chairmanship and presidential candidacy.

This statement comes on the heels of a recent induction ceremony led by former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, where former governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and 38 other members were welcomed into the party’s Board of Trustees.

Since the conclusion of the 2023 elections, the PDP has been grappling with significant internal turmoil.

Tensions escalated following a confrontation between Governor Sim Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike in Rivers State, compounded by ongoing leadership disputes in the South-South region and the unresolved position of National Secretary, which has been vacant since December 2024.

Efforts to mend these divisions have been made by various top party organs, including the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee, and Governors Forum.

However, these initiatives have only served to deepen existing fractures within the party, further fragmenting state and zonal chapters.

Amidst this, several party members have chosen to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A significant shift occurred on April 23, when Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other prominent officials transitioned to the APC, delivering a substantial blow to the PDP’s reputation and diminishing its prospects for the upcoming 2027 general elections.