“Fubara Came to Make Peace” — Wike Opens Up on Rivers State Crisis, Presidential Intervention, and the Role of Atedo Peterside

 

In a major revelation that adds another chapter to the ongoing political drama in Rivers State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, recently reached out to him seeking reconciliation.

Wike made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, where he addressed journalists on the political crisis that has engulfed Rivers State since 2023. According to Wike, Fubara did not come alone but came accompanied by two serving governors who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their mission? To broker peace and find a way out of the prolonged political impasse between the former governor and his successor.

“Yes, he came with two governors, unfortunately they are APC governors – I won’t pursue him. He said he wants peace and I also want peace. This means that there are open window for you and take the necessary steps that you want peace. This is a self-inflicted injury, he doesn’t need it,” Wike revealed.

This is the first time Wike is publicly confirming a direct attempt at reconciliation from Governor Fubara’s side, despite the highly publicized fallout between the two political figures. Their relationship, once seen as strong and father-son-like, turned sour shortly after Fubara assumed office in May 2023.

Since then, the political atmosphere in Rivers has been anything but calm. The crisis escalated to a national concern when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had to intervene, going as far as suspending Governor Fubara for six months and appointing a Sole Administrator to run the state’s affairs temporarily — a rare and drastic move in Nigerian politics.

Despite the bitterness and political tension, Wike said he is not against the idea of peace. However, he stressed that peace must come with responsibility and sincerity from Fubara himself.

“The President had called for peace severally and I can’t sit down and say no when the President has called for peace,” Wike emphasized.

He explained that the reconciliation can only work if Governor Fubara shows by his actions that he truly wants peace, not just talks for the sake of appearances. According to Wike, Fubara’s problems are mostly “self-inflicted” — meaning he brought them on himself due to poor political judgment and lack of humility.

Wike recalled that he had earlier warned Fubara about the way he was handling power. He said that as someone who once mentored him and played a key role in his emergence as governor, he felt compelled to offer him advice, which Fubara ignored.

“When it started I called him saying this thing is not good for you because God has given it to you, why not humbly handle it and not allow people push you?” Wike said, suggesting that external influences may have worsened the governor’s decisions.

As rumors continue to swirl about division within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Wike also used the opportunity to shut down claims that the party was in disarray.

“We don’t have problem with PDP in my state. Government is not the party but government could work with the party, so there is no problem with PDP in my state,” Wike clarified.

He explained that while the government may be having internal issues, those issues do not necessarily mean that the PDP as a party is broken in Rivers State.

The former Rivers governor also didn’t hold back when responding to recent remarks made by Atedo Peterside, the founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank and a respected public commentator. Peterside reportedly referred to some of Fubara’s government appointees as “riff-raffs,” a term Wike found deeply offensive.

“Atedo Peterside’s comment is unfortunate, saying appointees are riff-raffs is too extreme. PHD holders are riff-raffs because they could not establish a bank. If they had established a bank, they won’t have been riff-raffs,” Wike replied sharply.

He challenged the logic behind Peterside’s criticism and defended the qualifications and dignity of Fubara’s appointees. Wike also questioned Peterside’s contribution to the emergence of Fubara as governor, implying that Peterside had no moral right to make such sweeping and derogatory statements.

“These are some of the people who caused problems for the governor. When we were making this young man governor, what was Peterside’s contribution? He’s from Opobo LGA. How can a man give a blanket insult that people are riff-raffs? Look, whatever position you occupy, your impact on your people is key,” Wike declared.

Going further, Wike recalled a poignant conversation he had with the late Herbert Wigwe, the former Group CEO of Access Bank, as an example of how Rivers sons and daughters in high positions should think about giving back to their home state.

“When Wigwe was alive, I called him, look you are in Lagos and everyday you fly down here, what have you done for Rivers State? At the level you are, what can you say you have contributed for the development of the state? He looked at me and said he would return in two weeks time. He came back, he said that he has thought about it. He told me he was going to setup a world class university.”

This moment of reflection was Wike’s way of emphasizing that elites from Rivers State, whether in business or politics, should focus on legacy, development, and community upliftment rather than just holding titles or throwing criticism from afar.

Final Thoughts

From Wike’s detailed account, it's clear that the political tensions in Rivers are far from simple. There are layers of betrayal, loyalty, ambition, and external influence. Yet, in the middle of the storm, there’s a glimmer of hope — the possibility of peace, if both sides are willing to take the necessary steps.

But as Wike made clear: peace is not just a word. It is something you work for, prove with actions, and sustain with humility.

Whether Governor Fubara will rise to the occasion remains to be seen.

Stay locked on NaijaRush for all the updates as this political drama unfolds in one of Nigeria’s most strategic and influential states — Rivers.