I wanted outright removal of Fubara but Tinubu saved him, says Wike

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says he wanted the outright removal of Siminalayi Fubara as governor of Rivers state.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Friday, Wike said President Bola Tinubu did the right thing by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers.

The president also suspended the governor, his deputy, and lawmakers of the Rivers house of assembly.

“As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers state,” Wike said.

“I wanted the outright removal of Governor Fubara. The president, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara.

“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?’”

Wike also questioned why Fubara has not reached out to him since his suspension.

“Has anybody taken it upon himself or herself to say, ‘this is where we are?’,” he asked.

“If I am the cause of the problem… has he ever called me as an elder to say what is the problem? Let us sit down and talk.”

He added that Tinubu’s intervention saved the state from plunging into further crisis.

Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, was subsequently appointed to oversee the affairs of the state for an initial period of six months.