Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has pledged to work towards retaining political power in the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, declaring his commitment to ensuring the political bloc remains in control.
Fubara made the pledge during the official unveiling of Rivers State Rainbow Coalition candidates on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, where he publicly acknowledged Wike’s leadership and called for unity among political actors in the state.
The governor said he would deploy everything within his power to ensure victory for the coalition’s candidates, crediting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with standing by him during his most difficult period in office.
“With all my heart, and soul, and body, I will do everything within my power to ensure that we have victory not just for Mr. President who has stood for me in my most difficult time, but also to ensure that this power still remains in our own block, and it doesn’t go to any other place apart from where it is still standing, which is under the leadership of His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, Minister, Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
Fubara also sought to put an end to disputes over leadership within the political bloc, insisting that members should recognise their common leader and work towards shared objectives.
“There is no issue about who is the leader. I might be your oga, but we have a common leader now,” the governor said.
He described the gathering as a reunion with his political family, expressing gratitude to Wike and other leaders for their roles in his emergence as governor of Rivers State.
“I’m really happy to be here, not just being here, but standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor of Rivers State if God Almighty had not passed through my oga and other leader to make it possible in our dear state,” he said.
The governor added that the political actors had reunited for the good of the state, despite their previous disagreements.
“I’m very grateful today that, one way or the other, we are back together for a better cause and for the good of our dear state,” he said.
Speaking at the gathering, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, called on members of different political parties in Rivers State to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, insisting that party affiliation should not stand in the way of the coalition’s political objective.
The minister said members of the Labour Party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress and other parties should work together to secure victory for Tinubu.
He also called on PDP members in other states, including Kwara, Zamfara, Abia and Ogun, to support the President, declaring that members of the opposition party should back Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Wike further urged Rivers residents to support the APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and other candidates contesting seats in the National Assembly and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He warned against attempts to foment fresh crises within the political bloc, insisting that the coalition had resolved its differences and would not allow further divisions.
Also speaking at the event, APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda said the coalition was united by a common political vision and pledged that its collaboration would continue beyond the elections.
“The government will continue as a government of coalition by members of the rainbow,” he said.
Chinda said the proposed administration would be inclusive and prioritise the interests of Rivers residents, regardless of political affiliation, gender or religion. He added that the coalition’s agreement was intended to prevent a recurrence of the crises experienced during previous elections.
