Wike, speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, stated clearly: “As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers State.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he preferred the outright removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara rather than the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.

Wike, speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, stated clearly: “As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers State.

“I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.”

Last month, President Tinubu suspended Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing political instability and recent security threats, including pipeline explosions.

To stabilise the state, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibas as sole administrator, a decision that has since generated mixed reactions across the country.

Wike, who governed Rivers State before Fubara, insisted that the situation had deteriorated and the action was necessary.

The political battle between Wike and Fubara has remained intense since the latter assumed office, with the crisis spilling over into the State Assembly.

Twenty-seven lawmakers defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), resulting in a factional legislature with parallel speakers.