Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT, has fired back at Edwin Clark’s claims that he is using his ties with President Tinubu to undermine Rivers Governor Sim Fubara. Wike urges Fubara to face the crisis, insisting that leadership requires resilience.
In a sharp rebuttal to elder statesman Edwin Clark, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has challenged Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara to confront the ongoing political crisis in the state head-on. Wike, reacting to accusations from Clark that he is leveraging his relationship with President Bola Tinubu to intimidate Fubara, dismissed the claims as baseless and urged the governor to demonstrate true leadership by standing firm.
The tension between Wike and Fubara has been escalating, with the two clashing over control of Rivers State’s political landscape and resources. In an open letter to the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Clark had called for Wike’s expulsion from the party, accusing him of trying to destabilize the state.
Wike, speaking during a media briefing to mark his one year in office as FCT Minister, questioned Clark’s motives and defended his actions, highlighting his past support for Ijaw leadership. He stated, “If you are in a leadership position, you should be able to stand and face the crisis. That’s what politics is all about.”
Reflecting on his own experiences as a leader, Wike emphasized that facing challenges is part and parcel of leadership. He referenced his tenure as Rivers State Governor, during which he endured significant pressure from the Federal Government, yet never blamed any ethnic group or external party.
Wike’s comments underline the deepening rift within the political hierarchy of Rivers State, as the power struggle between him and Fubara continues to unfold.