The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has automatically become the leader of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State following his defection to the ruling party.
Speaking during a media parley with journalists in Port Harcourt, Wike maintained that party leadership is rooted in ward structures rather than political office, stressing that concepts such as “001” or a centralised party register do not apply.
He explained that every party member registers at the ward level, adding that political authority flows from that structure.
“There is nothing like 001 in the state. You register in your ward, and your local government is in your ward. Everybody registers in his own ward. You could be the first person to register, but not in the sense that by becoming governor you automatically become leader of the party,” Wike stated.
While acknowledging that governors often assume leadership roles within their parties, he insisted that true leadership is not determined by position alone. “Leadership is not because I am a governor. You must have something that makes you a leader,” he added.
Wike said the ongoing political tension in Rivers State stems from unfulfilled commitments tied to the peace agreement intended to resolve disputes between the governor and the state House of Assembly.
He said the breakdown of trust contributed to recent events that led the governor to accuse him of interference in state matters, insisting that Fubara was aware of all reconciliation engagements with lawmakers and key stakeholders.
“The governor cannot say there was no meeting between the speaker and the leadership of the House. He was present. I don’t like politicians who don’t say the truth,” he said, expressing displeasure over comments he felt should not have been made on national television.
The former Rivers governor also suggested that Fubara failed to demonstrate basic political courtesy expected in party relations, noting that certain gestures should come naturally from a serious political actor.
“Nobody told me to go and visit the Assembly to say thank you for their support. I don’t need anybody to tell me to call the speaker and say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. These are steps you take to show seriousness,” he said, adding that political engagement cannot be one-sided.
Wike further dismissed interpretations suggesting that his working relationship with Senator Ireti Kingibe had collapsed, referring to a letter in which she commended him for rehabilitating a major road in Abuja.
“She commended me for making Abuja a modern city. If there are two areas she thinks have not been done well, it does not mean Abuja is not doing well,” he noted.
He highlighted improvements in security, transport and infrastructure under his administration, explaining that sanitation delays arose from terminating old contracts and initiating fresh procurement processes.
He urged residents to exercise patience as ongoing reforms progress, insisting that criticism should be balanced with recognition of visible improvements. “You cannot have a modern city if it is dirty or insecure. Today, compared to the past ten years, appreciable improvement has been recorded,” he stated.
Wike reiterated his commitment to governance and loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, stressing that political stakeholders must honour agreements at all times.
