August 1, 2026 | By Dennis Naku*FCT Minister Nyesom
Wike says his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, made two major mistakes that derailed Rivers State’s progress: attempting to govern alone and rushing to create a separate political structure within months of taking office.Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike said it was troubling that Fubara started building his own base when he hadn’t even spent 100 days in office.
“That showed he had no regard for the people and structure that brought him to power,” Wike stated.The former Rivers governor said he handed over a “solid foundation” aimed at helping Rivers catch up with Lagos in infrastructure. He referenced the Port Harcourt Ring Road projectand 12 flyovers he completed as governor, which he described as legacy projects meant to transform the state capital.But according to Wike, Fubara chose a different path after listening to advisers who wanted him to fail — including people eyeing the governorship. “In politics, not everyone wants you to succeed.
The moment you say ‘I don’t need those who supported me,’ those who never wanted you will take over,” he said.Wike advised that new leaders must be discerning about the counsel they receive. “People will come through your wife, your in-laws, your father. You have to ask yourself: where will this advice take me? If you make the mistake of thinking you can do it alone, you will lose focus,” he added.He also dismissed rumors that he was demanding money from Fubara
“As FCT Minister, I manage a ₦1.8 trillion budget. What would I want from him? All I wanted was for him to stabilize Rivers and continue from where I stopped,” Wike said.He pointed to his record in the FCT as proof of focus, noting that monthly IGR grew from ₦8 billion to ₦40 billion under his watch. “His mistake is why the gap between Rivers and Lagos keeps widening,” Wike concluded.
