Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has warned that a sudden declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu does not automatically guarantee a governorship ticket for Rivers State in the 2027 elections.
Wike said that claiming to be standing on the president’s mandate cannot invalidate earlier political agreements, stressing that such agreements must be respected.
He spoke on Sunday during a special Christmas visit to his supporters in Emohua Local Government Area, at the palace of His Royal Highness, Ohna Sergent Awuse, the Paramount Ruler of Emohua and Chairman of the South-South Traditional Rulers Forum.
He reiterated his earlier position that no one should take him for granted after agreements have been reached, insisting that he would resist any attempt to alter such arrangements.
While emphasizing that President Tinubu’s return for a second term is already settled, Wike maintained that support for the president should not be used as a bargaining tool in Rivers State politics.
He said, “So, as far as Tinubu’s own is concerned, it’s a settled matter. As far as Tinubu’s own is concerned, it’s a settled matter.
“Anybody who wants to be governor of Rivers State, if you like sing on your mandate, no. Agreement is what, agreement. Agreements is what, agreement.”
He added, “What makes a man is when you agree to something with people, you keep it.
“Nobody can use us to play wayo, nobody. No matter the amount of money you say you have, it will crumble. It will crumble.
“We have done it before, it’s not about whether there’s N600 billion in the account, I’m not interested. What I’m interested in is, keep to agreement. Keep to agreement.
“Nobody should come and be telling me, we are for Tinubu, on your mandate. Who is for Tinubu in Rivers State?
“That cannot give you any ticket o. It cannot.”
Speaking further, the Minister said, “Nobody can intimidate us. Nobody born of a woman can intimidate us. If you like, you can have the billions of dollars. What we will say is what we will do.
“So, all of you prepare. We must play our role as usual and we must be relevant as usual.”
Wike also took a swipe at supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara who have recently declared support for President Tinubu, noting that the same group had earlier demanded that the seats of Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, be declared vacant.
He said those lawmakers “saw ahead of them.”
Despite repeatedly stressing that “agreement is agreement,” the minister did not disclose the specific nature of the agreement he referenced, or with whom such agreement was made, leaving room for speculation.
Although Wike did not directly mention any names, political observers have raised concerns about the future of Governor Fubara, particularly over his chances of securing a second-term ticket following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC.
