The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the political crisis in Rivers State stemmed largely from what he described as Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to distance himself from the political structure that brought him to power and attempt to establish his own political base shortly after assuming office.

Wike made the remarks during a special media chat held in Port Harcourt on Saturday, where he reflected on his relationship with his successor and the events that led to the prolonged political rift in the state.

According to the former Rivers State governor, Fubara’s biggest mistake was believing he could succeed politically without the support of those who worked for his emergence as governor.

He expressed surprise that the governor allegedly began efforts to create an independent political structure less than 100 days after taking office, describing the move as premature and politically unwise.

“In politics, you have to be careful. There are people who genuinely want you to succeed, while others are only waiting for you to fail. You must know the difference,” Wike said.

He recalled that before handing over power, he had advised Fubara to build on the foundation his administration had laid, particularly in infrastructure, with the goal of positioning Rivers State to compete with Lagos.

According to him, his administration initiated several landmark projects, including the multi-billion-naira Port Harcourt Ring Road, designed to connect several local government areas, as well as the construction of 12 flyovers, which he said transformed the landscape and road network of Port Harcourt and its environs.

Wike said his expectation was that the incoming administration would consolidate on those achievements rather than become distracted by political battles.

“My thinking was that we needed to compete with Lagos. We had laid the foundation, and he should have continued from where we stopped. We were ready to give him every necessary support,” he stated.

The FCT minister alleged that Fubara allowed himself to be influenced by individuals who never supported his emergence as governor and who, according to him, encouraged him to confront the political structure that facilitated his election.

He noted that politicians are often surrounded by advisers with conflicting interests and warned that leaders must carefully evaluate the motives behind the counsel they receive.

“You came through a political structure. Suddenly, people began telling him he should create his own structure and stop relying on those who supported him. Some even reached him through his wife, his family and close associates. It was left for him to think deeply about where such advice would lead,” Wike said.

He maintained that once Fubara decided he could operate independently of the political group that supported him, the relationship deteriorated rapidly.

“His mistake was believing he could do it alone. The people who never wanted him in office naturally came closer, while those who worked for him were pushed aside. It didn’t even take up to 100 days before we noticed something was fundamentally wrong,” he added.

Responding to allegations that he demanded money from Governor Fubara, Wike dismissed the claims as baseless, insisting such accusations often surface whenever political disagreements arise.

He argued that, as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory overseeing a budget of about ₦1.8 trillion, he had no reason to seek financial benefits from Rivers State.

“What would I be asking him for? As FCT Minister, I present my own budget just like a governor. All I wanted was for him to stabilise Rivers State and continue the developmental strides we had started,” he said.

Wike also highlighted improvements in the FCT’s internally generated revenue under his leadership, stating that monthly revenue had increased from about ₦8 billion to approximately ₦40 billion, which he attributed to effective governance and commitment to results.

He maintained that Rivers State would have made greater developmental progress had his successor remained focused on governance instead of engaging in political conflicts.

According to Wike, the political crisis has widened the development gap between Rivers State and Lagos, contrary to the vision he had for the oil-rich state before leaving office.