POLITICS
Wike Fires Political Warning in Rivers, Tells Gov. Fubara, “Tinubu Support Alone Won’t Secure Any Ticket” as Power Struggle with Fubara Deepens Ahead of 2027
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sent a strong political message to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that mere support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not automatically translate into the guarantee of any election ticket.
Wike made the statement on Sunday during a public outing in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, a development widely interpreted as a direct response to the ongoing political tensions rocking the state.
The former Rivers State governor stressed that political loyalty must be proven during difficult and uncertain times, not after power has already been secured.
According to him, alignment that comes only after victory carries little political value.
Mocking what he described as sudden or opportunistic support for President Tinubu, Wike insisted that last-minute declarations of loyalty would not attract political rewards or tickets.
In his words:
“So the issue is not whether you are supporting Tinubu. That one, we have taken too long, long… Yes, oh. So Tinubu’s issue is not an issue again. Yes. Do you understand me? Yes. Tinubu’s issue is that nobody should be coming here to tell a day. We are for Tinubu, I am against you. Who is for Tinubu University? (laughs) That cannot give you any ticket, oh. (laughs) Direct, direct. It will not. Direction. Direction.”
Wike emphasized that his political camp stood firmly with Tinubu at a time when such support was unpopular and politically risky. He argued that loyalty shown under pressure carries more weight than support declared after electoral success.
Recalling events leading up to the 2023 elections, Wike noted that the Rivers State House of Assembly openly backed Tinubu early, long before the outcome of the election was certain. He lamented that many individuals now publicly declaring support were nowhere to be found during that critical period.
He added:
“The same people now who came to declare, put them to God… But they should declare they are saying it for a candidate. Yes. Don’t you see characters? (laughs) So I send the sword far ahead of them.”
Beyond political loyalty, Wike also spoke on governance and continuity, defending projects, policies, and agreements initiated during his tenure as governor. He observed that successors often struggle to acknowledge the efforts of past administrations, despite the fact that governance is a continuous process.
His remarks come just weeks after Governor Fubara formally aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the political party of President Tinubu. That move followed months of intense political crisis in Rivers State, which culminated in federal intervention and a brief declaration of emergency rule.
Political observers believe Wike’s comments were a calculated response to Fubara’s recent positioning as a major Tinubu ally in Rivers politics. Critics argue that the governor’s support for the president only became visible after the political turbulence in the state had eased.
Despite now serving in Abuja as FCT Minister, Wike remains a dominant and influential figure in Rivers State politics. His latest remarks appear to draw a clear battle line ahead of the 2027 general elections, signaling that political tickets will be determined by tested loyalty rather than convenience.
Videos from the event in Rumuche, Emohua, have since gone viral on social media, with many users describing the speech as a coded but unmistakable warning to Governor Fubara.
As of press time, neither the Rivers State Government nor Wike’s media team has issued an official clarification on the comments.
However, the development strongly suggests that the political rift between the Wike and Fubara camps remains active, despite earlier peace efforts reportedly b
rokered at the national level.