They Couldn’t Sing ‘On Your Mandate’ When It Mattered: Wike Jabs Fubara’s Camp After APC Defection

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at some recent supporters of President Bola Tinubu, accusing them of enjoying the benefits of sacrifices they did not help make during the 2023 general elections.

Speaking on Saturday at the annual Thanksgiving ceremony of the Chairman of the South-South Development Forum, Chibudom Nwuche, held in Ochigba community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Wike questioned the sincerity of those now publicly chanting support for the President.

According to Wike, many of the individuals currently singing “on your mandate we stand” were absent when Tinubu needed open backing the most. He said that during the tense period of the elections, several political actors were unwilling to publicly call on voters to support Tinubu, while he and his supporters took the risk of standing firmly with him.

Although Wike did not mention names, the remarks were widely interpreted as a jab at Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his former political protégé, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress. Fubara is widely regarded as Wike’s erstwhile political godson, and the comment has further highlighted the deepening political rift between both men.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a key political figure in the South-South, played a controversial but decisive role in the 2023 elections by backing Tinubu despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party at the time. His support was seen as instrumental to Tinubu’s unexpected victory in Rivers State.

He maintained that when it was difficult to openly align with Tinubu, he and his camp did not waver, insisting that their loyalty helped strengthen the President’s mandate in the state. Wike added that those who stood by Tinubu during that challenging period were the true contributors to the victory now being celebrated.

The minister assured his supporters that their loyalty and sacrifices would not be forgotten, stressing that their efforts would not go unrewarded now that Tinubu has emerged victorious and Rivers State has benefited from that political choice.