Fubara Wants Peace, Wike Doesn’t — Rivers Elders Hail Governor’s Visit as Sacrifice

Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been described by Rivers elders as a deliberate effort to restore peace in the state. Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a member of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council and the pioneer spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, said the visit symbolised Fubara’s willingness to make personal sacrifices for the sake of harmony in Rivers.

Sara-Igbe noted that Governor Fubara had consistently shown restraint and a desire for peaceful resolution, in contrast to what he described as Wike’s more combative approach. “Of course, the governor wants peace all through. The governor is looking for peace — it is Wike who doesn’t want peace,” he said. He emphasised that peace requires humility and sacrifice, commending the governor for prioritising dialogue. “The governor is a governor of everybody. It’s not about pride. With humility, he went there to discuss, and they discussed,” he added.

Wike, confirming the meeting during a live media chat on Monday, said Fubara visited him in Port Harcourt, accompanied by two governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress and another unnamed individual. “Yes, he came. He came with two governors and one other person. Unfortunately, the two governors are APC governors, so I will not pursue them. And he said he wants peace — fine. I want peace,” Wike said.

However, the FCT Minister maintained that the current political crisis facing Fubara was of his own making. He recalled a previous intervention where he and other political figures — including Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi — advised Fubara against isolating his political allies. “When this thing started, I called him… We sat him down and said: ‘This thing is not good for you. God has given you this office; why not be humble and not allow people to push you?’” Wike stated.

He added that the governor was repeatedly advised not to forget those who had worked tirelessly to ensure his emergence. “Nobody is taking that away — he is a governor. But all I am saying is, don’t abandon people who laboured for you day and night,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking on issues in the Federal Capital Territory, Wike addressed concerns over open grazing. He said the administration was tackling the problem carefully due to its complexity. He revealed that while 100 hectares of land had been set aside for grazing reserves, the area had been affected by encroachment. “The truth is that nobody is happy about it… We are doing everything we can, but we must tread cautiously,” he explained.