Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says the people of Rivers State do not need the contributions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
Wike stated this on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the headquarters of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a building complex also housing Majority FM 89.5, a situation room, office facilities and buses for the organisation.
Although Wike didn’t directly mention Fubara’s name, his remarks appeared to be directed at the Rivers Governor, who defected to the All Progressives Congress in December, 2025.
Fubara, who was once Wike’s political ally, has been entangled in a political battle with his former mentor and predecessor ahead of the 2027 general election.
The rift between the duo is believed to be tied to Fubara’s second term ambition, which Wike is said to be opposing, even as many residents of the state have expressed support for the governor to seek re-election, in line with past administrations.
Both Wike and Fubara are mobilising support for President Tinubu’s second term, but the governor’s own re-election bid remains uncertain.
Wike, who commended the coordinator of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Desmond Akawor, for his mobilisation drive, assured that Rivers would work for Tinubu’s re-election.
The FCT Minister said, “Desmond Akawor, you have shown enough capacity to mobilise, you have moved to all the nocks and crannies of Rivers to talk about Tinubu for President in 2027.
“I have said before that Rivers State is a no-go area, and I want to say again that this State is totally for Tinubu. We have made sure that all the 23 local governments and zonal coordinators were inaugurated, that day Nigerians all over the world watched that Rivers State is a no-go area.
“Today, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Coordinator has also invited us to commission some vehicles that the headquarters of the Secretariat will use and to commission the Secretariat itself. This is the first of its kind in this part of the country.
“I challenge anybody, let them come to Rivers State and learn. Our commitment is not by mouth, our commitment is not by newspaper; ours is by showing, that yes indeed, we are working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We don’t need to have a governor to mobilise for Mr President. We have all it takes to be on our own, we have senators, assembly people, council chairmen, National Assembly members, party chairmen of APC and PDP. We have mobilised ourselves to make commitment. If you say you are supporting somebody, there is no need for the person to bring his resources, you have to make commitment and this is what our leaders have done.
“Let me once again thank all of you for your commitment, you are the envy of every other state and they are watching you all over the place.
“In 2023, we came out without anybody pressuring us, without anybody influencing us, we took a decision, to the glory of God that decision is what we are enjoying today, and whether anybody likes it or not, 2027 when the President has shown interest that he will run, we have no choice than to continue to support Mr President.
“Mr coordinator, you have to start preparing to inaugurate ward and unit coordinators, it is very important. We must also take it down to the units, to go and talk to our people to continue to support Mr President, go and see the situation room, go and see the radio station. We are battle ready, there is nothing we can not do because unity is strength.”
While welcoming the FCT Minister and guests to the opening of the secretariat, Akawor praised Wike for providing leadership to the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
He said the group had established structures across the 23 local government areas of the state and described the minister’s political style as “AI politics”.
Governor Fubara and his supporters stayed away from the event.
But it was gathered that the Simplified Movement, the Governor’s campaign team is planning a major event in the coming days to demonstrate its support for President Tinubu in the state.
