Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said the biggest mistake made by his successor, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, was attempting to build an independent political structure within his first 100 days in office.
Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Wike said the move undermined the political structure that supported Fubara’s emergence as governor and marked the beginning of the crisis between them.
The former Rivers State governor said he had expected Fubara to consolidate on the foundation laid by his administration rather than pursue what he described as an early political realignment.
According to him, his vision before leaving office was for Rivers State to sustain its infrastructure development and gradually rival Lagos State.
“In politics, you have to be careful. Not everyone around you wants you to succeed. We laid the foundation and expected him to continue from where we stopped so Rivers could compete with Lagos,” Wike said.
The minister said his administration initiated major infrastructure projects, including the Port Harcourt Ring Road, and delivered 12 flyovers that transformed the state’s road network and improved the appearance of the capital city.
Wike alleged that Fubara was influenced by individuals who neither supported his emergence nor had his best interests at heart, claiming they encouraged the governor to distance himself from the political structure that produced him.
“You cannot succeed alone. The mistake he made was believing he could do it by himself and setting up his own structure against the one that produced him. It didn’t take up to 100 days before we noticed something was fundamentally wrong,” he said.
He advised political office holders to be cautious about the counsel they receive from associates, family members and political allies, warning that some advisers could push leaders towards decisions that ultimately undermine their administrations.
The former governor also dismissed allegations that he demanded money from Fubara, describing the claims as a familiar narrative often used whenever political allies fall out.
“The moment politicians disagree, the first allegation is that someone was asking for money. Why would I ask a governor for money when I am the Minister of the FCT with a budget comparable to that of a governor? That argument does not hold water,” he said.
Reflecting on his tenure as governor, Wike said his administration remained focused on governance, pointing to the commissioning of projects over a 31-day period before leaving office as evidence of its achievements.
He added that his expectation was for his successor to stabilise Rivers State and build on the developmental gains recorded during his administration.
Blessing Ibunge
