Wike: Tinubu's Endorsement Won't Secure Rivers Governorship Ticket

Table of Contents

1. Warning About Support for President Tinubu
2. Importance of Political Agreements
3. Christmas Visit to Supporters
4. Governorship Ticket Implications
5. Resisting Intimidation
6. Speculations About Governor Fubara

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned that a sudden declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu does not automatically ensure a governorship ticket for Rivers State in the 2027 elections.

Wike stated that claiming allegiance to the president’s mandate cannot nullify previous political agreements, emphasizing that such agreements must be honored.

He made these remarks 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.

Wike reiterated his stance that no one should underestimate him after agreements have been established, insisting that he would oppose any attempts to modify such arrangements.

While asserting that President Tinubu’s re-election for a second term is already assured, Wike insisted that support for the president should not be leveraged as a bargaining chip in Rivers State politics.

He remarked, “As far as Tinubu’s situation is concerned, it’s a settled matter. As far as Tinubu’s situation is concerned, it’s a settled matter.”

“Anyone aspiring to be governor of Rivers State, regardless of your claims to the mandate, no. An agreement is what it is, an agreement is what it is.”

He continued, “What defines a person is their ability to honor agreements made with others.”

“No one can manipulate us, no one. Regardless of the amount of money you may possess, it will eventually fail. It will fail.”

“We have done it before; it’s not about whether there’s N600 billion in the account, I’m not interested. What matters is honoring agreements. Honoring agreements.”

“No one should come and claim allegiance to Tinubu on your mandate. Who is supporting Tinubu in Rivers State?”

“That will not secure you any ticket. It will not.”

Further commenting, the Minister said, “No one can intimidate us. No one born of a woman can intimidate us. Whether you possess billions of dollars, what we say is what we will do.”

“So, all of you prepare. We must perform our duties as usual and remain relevant as always.”

Wike also criticized supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara who recently declared their support for President Tinubu, pointing out that this same group had previously called for the seats of Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be declared vacant.

He remarked that those lawmakers “saw ahead of them.”

Despite repeatedly asserting that “an agreement is an agreement,” the minister did not clarify the specific nature of the agreement he mentioned or with whom it was made, leaving room for speculation.

Although Wike did not directly name anyone, political analysts have expressed concerns regarding the future of Governor Fubara, particularly about his prospects for securing a second-term ticket following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

DAILY POST reports that the minister also made a similar Christmas visit to his supporters in Ikwerre Local Government Area, where he addressed stakeholders and conveyed the same message about the importance of agreements, as he did in Emohua and Ahoada.