The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticized Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for writing a letter to the state House of Assembly, calling the move “useless” and insincere.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike dismissed Fubara’s attempt to communicate with the lawmakers through an official letter, saying the governor should have directly reached out to Speaker Martins Amaewhule and his colleagues instead of making the matter public.
“You have had a frosty relationship with an arm of government. If you are a good politician, will you go and write a letter? Is it by writing a letter signed by the SSG? What an insult! Is it how it is done?” Wike asked.
Lawmakers Are Not Subordinates, Wike Warns
Wike emphasized that the lawmakers are independent and should not be treated as Fubara’s subordinates. He argued that Fubara’s approach showed a lack of political wisdom and was merely an attempt to impress the public.
“You want to play at the gallery which is rubbish. All these letters are useless, you are not sincere, you are playing to the gallery,” he said.
According to Wike, if Fubara genuinely wanted to resolve the crisis in Rivers State, he should have picked up the phone and reached out directly to Speaker Amaewhule.
Supreme Court Recognizes Amaewhule as Speaker
The political crisis in Rivers State deepened after the Supreme Court ruled on February 28, 2025, affirming the legitimacy of the state House of Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership. A five-member panel, led by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, rejected Fubara’s appeal that sought to challenge the lawmakers’ authority.
The Supreme Court also placed financial restrictions on the Rivers State Government, blocking the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant General, and other financial institutions from releasing funds to the state. The court accused Fubara’s administration of disobeying previous rulings and declared the local government elections held on October 5, 2024, as invalid.
In response to the judgment, Fubara promised to comply and directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh local government election on August 9, 2025.
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Fubara’s Letter and the Call for Peace
Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, sent a letter on Friday, requesting a meeting with the lawmakers on March 10, 2025. The meeting was intended to discuss the 2025 budget and ways to restore peace in the state.
However, Wike dismissed the peace talks, insisting that true peace could only come when the right steps were taken.
“What is peace? What is more important than letting the right thing be done? When the right thing is done, there will be peace. But if the right thing is not done, how can you talk about peace?” Wike asked.
He urged Fubara to stop playing politics and instead focus on governance by presenting the state’s budget and submitting a list of commissioners for approval.
“Go present the budget; go submit the list of the commissioners,” he said.
Political Tension Continues in Rivers State
The conflict between Wike and Fubara, which started shortly after Fubara took office, has led to divisions in the Rivers State Government. While Wike, Fubara’s predecessor, played a major role in his election, the relationship between the two has soured over time.
With Wike backing the House of Assembly and calling for decisive action, and Fubara seeking to assert his authority, Rivers State remains caught in a political battle that shows no signs of ending soon.