The minister of the federal capital territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, will not secure a second term in office in 2027, insisting that reports of a ₦600bn financial war chest would not save him from defeat.
Speaking on Wednesday during a “thank-you” visit to Tai local government area of Rivers State, Wike accused his estranged political protégé of reneging on agreements reached at a peace and reconciliation meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu in June, a move he said had further poisoned the political atmosphere in the oil-rich state.
In a veiled but pointed attack on the governor, Wike argued that political power in Rivers had never been determined by money alone, stressing that popular support, rather than access to state resources, would decide the outcome of the next governorship election.
“We are battle ready. We were the original ‘mandate’ people,” Wike said. “Don’t deal with people who cannot keep to agreements and then tell you it is politics. That kind of politics will not work here again.
“If they like, let them keep all the money, whether they have ₦600bn or not. We have defeated people with money before. We will still defeat people with money. What matters is the people; it is not money.”
The former Rivers governor alleged that Fubara had failed to honour commitments made before Tinubu at the Abuja meeting, adding that details of the agreement would soon be made public.
“After agreeing on something, you renege. And you think you are a smart politician? You are clever by half,” Wike said. “Very soon, we will let Rivers people know what we agreed before Mr President. This agreement was not done anywhere else; it was done before Mr President. If you can renege on what we agreed before Mr President, then who are we?”
Wike reiterated earlier claims that his political camp would “correct the mistake” of the 2023 governorship election, saying his allies were already mobilising to reclaim power in the state. He dismissed suggestions that Fubara’s control of state machinery or finances would intimidate the opposition, insisting that loyalty and grassroots support would shape the 2027 contest.
He also used the occasion to commend the people of Tai local government for backing Tinubu during the 2023 general election, noting that their political gamble had been rewarded with federal appointments, infrastructure projects and the siting of the Federal University of Environment in the area.
Tinubu had met Wike, Fubara and members of the Rivers state house of assembly at the State House in Abuja in late June 2025 in a bid to resolve the protracted political standoff in the state. The meeting followed months of intense tension and institutional paralysis triggered by a bitter power struggle between Wike and his successor, which culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of the governor and lawmakers.
Although both men publicly pledged after the meeting to work together in the interest of peace and stability, the terms of the agreement were never disclosed and hostilities have since persisted.
Meanwhile, the Rivers state government on Wednesday moved to clarify controversy surrounding its ₦100,000 Christmas bonus, saying the payment is made annually to all civil and public office holders without discrimination.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the permanent secretary of the ministry of information and communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo, said the bonus was paid across board to all workers, including pensioners captured on the state’s payroll system.
The clarification followed a statement by members of the state house of assembly rejecting the ₦100,000 cash transfer, which they described as unconstitutional and extra-budgetary, alleging that the governor had refused to present the 2025 budget.
Sirawoo said the bonus had been paid consistently over the past three years and was intended as a token of appreciation for workers’ dedication throughout the year. He declined to comment directly on reports that lawmakers rejected the payment but noted that the Rivers state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress had recently commended the government for the gesture.
He added that Governor Fubara remained committed to policies that provide a social safety net for state employees and their families, describing organised labour as a key partner in the administration’s “Rivers First” development agenda.
“Workers remain the greatest pride of the Rivers state government’s development agenda,” Sirawoo said. “While this bonus is meant to brighten the festive season, our long-term focus remains the continuous improvement of the working environment and the welfare of everyone serving Rivers state.”
