Wike Slams Fubara: "You're Begging Tinubu But Sponsoring Protesters to Embarrass His WifeÔÇØ

... FCT Minister blasts Rivers Governor over walkout on First Lady's empowerment event - accuses him of double-speak, hypocrisy

In a fiery outburst that has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused his embattled successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, of political hypocrisy and betrayal.

Wike's latest attack came in response to an embarrassing scene that unfolded in Port Harcourt on Friday, where a group of women staged a walkout during First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's empowerment programme, organized under the Renewed Hope Initiative to support 500 women in the state.

The women chanted slogans in support of Fubara and demanded his reinstatement - despite the fact that the governor has been officially suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid a deepening political crisis in the state.

Wike, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, described the protest as an insult to the presidency and a national embarrassment.

"Insulting anyone representing the First Lady of Nigeria is a direct insult on the office of the President and Commander-in-Chief,ÔÇØ Wike declared. "As a leader from Rivers State, I offer an unreserved apology to the President and our First Lady.ÔÇØ

Currently on an official visit to China, Wike didn't hold back in his condemnation of Fubara, whom he accused of pretending to seek peace while secretly fueling unrest.

"It is not enough to visit people to plead for peace,ÔÇØ he said. "Those who genuinely want peace act like it. You can't be begging Tinubu in private and at the same time, sponsoring people to insult his wife in public.ÔÇØ

He described Fubara's political camp as lacking sincerity, noting that their "up-and-down pleadings for peaceÔÇØ are mere theatrics meant to deceive the public.

Wike also urged Rivers people to reject what he called "shenanigansÔÇØ from the Fubara administration, insisting that their antics are tarnishing the image of the state on a national and international level.

"We condemn that protest in totality,ÔÇØ he said. "Those women do not reflect the values and ideals of Rivers State. We apologise to our First Lady for their disgraceful conduct.ÔÇØ

The ongoing crisis in Rivers State reached a boiling point in March 2025, when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency, citing political instability and breakdown of governance. He suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.

In their place, he appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, as the sole administrator of the state. Ibas wasted no time in suspending all political appointees loyal to Fubara, sparking further unrest among his supporters.

Fubara, who returned from a two-week vacation just last Friday, is now facing fresh backlash over the embarrassing protest incident - a development that may deepen his isolation from the federal power bloc and complicate efforts at reconciliation.

With Wike now openly accusing Fubara of political sabotage, duplicity, and orchestrating disrespect against the presidency, Rivers State appears to be plunging deeper into political chaos.

As the tension between former allies escalates into open warfare, analysts warn that the consequences for peace and governance in Rivers could be dire - unless urgent steps are taken to restore order and accountability.