The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he initially wanted Governor Sim Fubara completely removed from office amid the political tension in Rivers State.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Wike credited President Bola Tinubu for stepping in and preventing what he described as chaos in the state. He said the president’s decision to suspend Fubara for six months, declare a state of emergency, and appoint a sole administrator was what kept the state from total collapse.

“Honestly, as a politician, I wasn’t pleased. I wanted him removed entirely,” Wike said. “But looking at the bigger picture, the president made the right call for the sake of the state.”

He argued that Tinubu’s intervention saved Rivers from total shutdown, pointing out that without a proper structure, institutions would have been crippled and local governments would stop receiving funds.

Wike didn’t hold back, saying the governor had already lost control and that if not for Tinubu’s timely decision, Rivers State would have been in serious trouble.

“The people should be thanking the president every morning. He stepped in when things were falling apart,” he added. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s not my job to make the governor comfortable. Politics is a game of power, and Tinubu played it to keep the state stable.”

He also revealed that he had to travel to London to meet with some lawmakers to calm the tension, insisting that the president’s role was the only thing that stopped the situation from getting worse.