'Barking Dog Made You Governor' - Wike Fires Back at Fubara, Signals Political War in Rivers

... Explosive New Year clash exposes deepening rift as Wike vows to "correct the mistakeÔÇØ that produced Fubara

The political crisis rocking Rivers State took a dramatic and controversial turn on Friday as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, launched a blistering verbal attack on his estranged political prot├®g├®, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that the same "barking dogÔÇØ Fubara mocked was the force that made him governor.

Wike's reaction came barely 24 hours after Governor Fubara, speaking at a New Year banquet, appeared to take a swipe at his former political benefactor with a metaphor that quickly went viral.

"If you have a dog in your house and it knows you, does it need to bark?ÔÇØ Fubara had asked, a remark widely interpreted as a jab at Wike amid renewed hostilities between both men.

Addressing a crowd in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), Wike dismissed the comment and turned the metaphor against the governor, insisting that Fubara's political rise was solely a product of his backing.

According to the FCT Minister, when Rivers people barely knew Fubara, it was his political structure and influence that "barkedÔÇØ loudly enough to deliver the governorship, even as others allegedly retreated in fear.

Wike stressed that he was unfazed by the current hostility, suggesting that political loyalty and courage, not mockery, determine survival in Rivers politics.

In what many political observers have described as a thinly veiled warning, Wike declared that certain political errors made in the past would not be repeated, hinting at a possible realignment ahead of future elections.

He reaffirmed his unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating clearly that there was no debate about where his loyalty lies at the federal level. However, he added pointedly that Rivers politics required a "correction,ÔÇØ a statement already fuelling speculation about plans to politically isolate or weaken Fubara.

Wike also took aim at politicians who previously worked for Atiku Abubakar, dismissing their relevance and questioning their electoral value after failing to deliver meaningful votes.

Without mentioning names, he suggested that their return to the political scene offered no strategic advantage, reinforcing his long-held narrative that political strength lies in structures, not noise.

The latest exchange underscores how far the once-close alliance between Wike and Fubara has deteriorated, transforming into an open confrontation with serious implications for governance, party cohesion, and future elections in Rivers State.

As political tensions rise, analysts warn that the escalating rhetoric could further polarize the state, deepen institutional standoffs, and reshape the power dynamics ahead of major political contests.