Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s withdrawal from the All Progressives Congress governorship contest did not catch him unaware, insisting that the governor violated an earlier political arrangement by obtaining the party’s nomination documents.
Wike made the remarks on Monday in Abuja while addressing reporters shortly after inspecting several ongoing development projects across the Federal Capital Territory. During the interaction, the former Rivers governor spoke extensively about the political situation in Rivers State and recent happenings within the APC.
Reacting to the emergence of Hon. Kingsley Chinda as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Wike described him as a seasoned politician with the capacity and experience needed for leadership.
He explained that Chinda’s political journey, which includes service in both the executive and legislative arms of government, distinguished him among other contenders. Wike also referenced Chinda’s previous position as Minority Leader in the House of Representatives under the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to the FCT minister, Chinda’s political value and influence may have informed efforts by the APC leadership to bring him into the ruling party before handing him the governorship ticket.
Speaking further on Governor Fubara’s exit from the race, Wike maintained that the governor was never expected to purchase the APC nomination form because a political settlement had already been reached among the key actors involved in the Rivers crisis.
He revealed that the understanding reached during peace talks required lawmakers to discontinue impeachment proceedings against Fubara, while the governor was also expected to refrain from pursuing a second-term ambition.
Wike argued that by collecting the nomination form despite the agreement, Fubara acted contrary to the expectations of those involved in the reconciliation process.
The minister stated that the governor’s action raised concerns about trust and commitment to the peace arrangement, adding that such behaviour was not what political stakeholders anticipated after extensive negotiations.
He also disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on several occasions intervened in the lingering Rivers political dispute by appealing to members of the State House of Assembly to abandon moves aimed at removing the governor from office.
According to Wike, despite repeated interventions from the President intended to restore calm and political stability in Rivers State, the situation eventually resulted in Fubara stepping aside from the governorship contest while another aspirant secured the APC ticket.
Shifting attention to governance in Abuja, the FCT minister expressed delight over the level of progress recorded on different infrastructure projects currently underway within the capital city.
He described the inspection exercise as highly fulfilling, stressing that many of the projects were nearing completion and would soon be ready for inauguration.
Speaking on the Renewed Hope City housing development in Kassara, supervised by Lubriks Construction, Wike noted that the project had reached an advanced stage and was almost completed.
On the Old Keffi Road project in Dei-Dei, he explained that road surfacing work had largely been concluded, while installation of streetlights and finishing touches were still ongoing ahead of commissioning.
The minister also applauded Arab Contractors for the standard of work delivered on the Airport Road-Kuje project, describing the construction as remarkable and evidence of effective leadership.
In the same vein, he praised Gilmour Engineering for the transformation achieved on the first phase of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road project, saying the development had significantly improved the area.
At the refurbished City Gate project being executed by Julius Berger, Wike commended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for conceiving the initiative, adding that the project had given the entrance into Abuja a modern and attractive appearance.
He concluded by expressing confidence that contractors would meet their delivery timeline, noting that the projects were expected to be completed between the end of May and the beginning of June.
