Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has described the ordeals that suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is going through as self-inflicted.
The governor is on a six-month suspension following the state of emergency President Bola Tinubu declared in the state.
It was borne out of the political crisis rocking the state, as a result of the rift between Wike and Fubara, who is is estranged godson.
While Wike admitted on Monday that peace moves are on, he said Fubara had an opportunity to stave off the crisis.
According to him, the suspended Governor visited him at his Port Harcourt residence with two other governors.
The Minister stated this on Monday during a live media chat, confirming Fubara’s visit,adding that the accompanying governors were “unfortunately”, governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Yes, he came. He came with two governors and one other person. Unfortunately, the two governors are APC governors, so I will not pursue them. And he said he wants peace, fine. I want peace,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister also described the experiences of the embattled governor as “self-inflicted injury”, noting that he had previously invited the governor, in the presence of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, and former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, noting, however, that Fubara had failed to heed their advice.
“Indeed, this is a self-inflicted injury. He does not need it. When this thing started, I called him, Seyi Makinde was there, Ortom was there, Ikpeazu was there, Ugwuanyi was there, we were scouting. We sat him down and said this thing is not good for you. God has given you this thing, why not be humble and not allow people to push you? They are telling you to act like a governor. We know. Nobody is taking it away; you are a governor. But all I am saying is don’t abandon people who have laboured for you day and night,” he said.
Addressing the issue of open grazing in the FCT, Wike said he felt a need to “thread cautiously”, noting that he was doing everything to address the issue.
“The truth is that nobody is happy about it… Governance is not like when you are running a private business; you have to tread carefully, and we are doing everything we can. For example, before I came, there was a place where land was allocated for grazing reserves, about 100 hectares. If I tell you the fight we are currently fighting. So many people have encroached, land grabbers have encroached, but it’s a problem that will be sorted out, though we have to tread cautiously,” Wike said.
