The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, emphatically declared that he and his camp are “in charge” of the oil-rich state, even as the prolonged power struggle between him and Governor Siminalayi Fubara shows few signs of relenting.
Wike made the pronouncement on Saturday during a civic reception organised in his honour by the Wariwike Ethnic Nationality in Ogu, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, asserting that the political turbulence gripping Rivers State is ultimately under his control.
Addressing the crowd, the former governor expressed gratitude to his supporters and sought to reassure them about the direction of the ongoing dispute. “When God promotes you in life, you’ll go back and say, “God, I thank you.” I can tell you, go home and sleep very well with your two eyes closed. We’re in charge,” Wike said, underscoring his confidence in his influence over the state’s political landscape.
Wike’s declaration re-ignites public attention on the protracted rivalry between him and Governor Fubara, a conflict that has disrupted governance in Rivers for the better part of three years. The feud first erupted in 2023 when Fubara clashed with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned with Wike, triggering a series of political confrontations.
The struggle reached a flashpoint in March 2025, when President Bola Tinubu imposed a six-month emergency rule on the state following allegations of governance breakdown. Although the emergency rule has since been lifted, tensions have only intensified, with pro-Wike lawmakers threatening impeachment proceedings against Fubara on grounds of alleged unconstitutional conduct.
In a strategic political move, Governor Fubara recently defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a shift analysts say is aimed at insulating himself from impeachment and consolidating support from the ruling party at the federal level.
Beyond the supremacy tussle in Rivers, Wike has broadened his political engagement through the launch of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a coalition grouping leaders across political divides in support of President Tinubu’s re-election campaign. At the same event where he reiterated his control claim, Wike also accused the Rivers State Government of blocking approval for the use of Yakubu Gowon Stadium for his political activities, an allegation the state government has denied, saying the facility is undergoing construction.
Wike used the occasion to praise President Tinubu for reforms within the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), arguing that its revamped structure reflects a renewed commitment to development in the region. “The NDC we have today is different from the NDC we used to have. Why? You have the president who believes you must renew the hope of the hopeless,” he said.
The Rivers crisis continues to draw national attention, with various political actors and institutions weighing in on the impasse. While some advocate for negotiated solutions and adherence to constitutional processes, others warn that prolonged conflict could undermine democratic governance and stability in the state.
