No Sin in Politics: Wike Welcomes Fubara Back to Political Fold

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike

No Sin in Politics: Wike Welcomes Fubara Back to Political Fold

FCT Minister says governor had “no other choice” but to return to political family that produced him, as reconciliation boosts Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday formally welcomed Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara back into his political fold, declaring that “there is no sin in politics” and insisting that the governor had “no other choice” than to return to the political family that produced him. Speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing road projects across the Federal Capital Territory, Wike said Fubara’s decision to publicly align once again with his political camp was a step in the right direction, adding that the reconciliation would strengthen support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election. “I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him. I have now been informed that he has made that declaration publicly, and we welcome him,” the minister said. “Our doors are open. Everyone is welcome for us to work together. There is no better alternative. We will all work together to move the state forward.” The FCT Minister dismissed suggestions that Fubara’s return amounted to forgiveness after months of political disagreement, saying politics should not be viewed in terms of wrongdoing. “I don’t know what you mean by sin. In politics, there is no sin. If someone realises they made a mistake and decides to correct it, there is nothing wrong with that. Politics is not a sin. What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and making the right decision.”

Wike recalled that he had predicted Fubara’s return during his last media chat, saying the governor had no alternative but to return to his political roots. “Our doors are open. Everyone is welcome for us to work together. There is no better alternative. We will all work together to move the state forward,” he said. The minister also said Fubara’s public declaration of reconciliation would strengthen efforts to mobilise support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid. “He has publicly stated that he has returned to where he started, and we receive him with an open mind. There is nothing to hide. We will all work together to ensure that we deliver the votes President Tinubu needs for his re-election,” Wike said. Fubara had, during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rivien Medical Industry project in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State last week, announced that he had returned to Wike’s political family. The governor declared support for the Rainbow Coalition, endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, and urged his supporters to back all candidates of the coalition. “The time of war is over. It is now time for peace, and this peace is taking us to another level,” Fubara told supporters. The rapprochement caps a crisis that repeatedly tested Nigeria’s federal structure. The feud erupted months after Fubara took office in May 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, pitting him against Wike loyalists who dominated the State House of Assembly. It escalated into a prolonged standoff over control of the legislature, the local government system, and the state’s finances.

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On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the 32-member Assembly, and installing a retired naval chief, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, as sole administrator. The presidency cited a “total paralysis of governance,” security concerns over pipeline vandalism, and a legislative deadlock. The action drew more than 40 court challenges over its constitutionality and became one of the most contested executive decisions of Tinubu’s tenure. The emergency ran its full six months. During that window, the administrator conducted local government elections on August 30, 2025, in which the All Progressives Congress won 20 of the 23 councils, tightening the party’s grip ahead of 2027. President Tinubu lifted the emergency and reinstated the elected officials on September 18, 2025. Fubara’s realignment has since gathered pace. He formally joined the APC in December 2025, then withdrew from the party’s governorship primary in May 2026 after the national secretariat declined to clear him, paving the way for Hon. Kingsley Chinda to secure the ticket. His endorsement of the coalition now places the governor and his predecessor on the same side for the first time since 2023.

The minister spoke while leading senior officials of the FCT Administration on an inspection of major road projects, including the ongoing ISEX Road Corridor and the nearly completed Apo-Karshi Road, both regarded as strategic infrastructure expected to unlock development across large sections of the capital city. Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the ISEX Road, noting that construction commenced immediately after President Tinubu flagged off the project during the third anniversary commissioning of landmark infrastructure across the FCT. “This road was flagged off during the third anniversary commissioning. We came here today to assess the progress made since the flag-off, and as you can see, the contractor moved to site immediately after the ceremony,” he said. According to the minister, the contractor has assured the administration that the project will be ready for commissioning in December. “I believe them. They are committed to handing over this project by December. We will be very happy because this road will open up the entire area for development,” he stated. The minister also inspected the long-delayed ISEX Road project, describing it as one of the last major inherited infrastructure projects yet to be completed in the FCT. Awarded in 2014, the 10-kilometre road, complete with interchanges, has remained unfinished through successive administrations. Wike disclosed that the contractor had undertaken to complete six kilometres of the road and key interchanges before the end of the year, provided adequate funding is released. “We have appealed to the Minister of Finance because the project is already captured in the national budget. If part of the funds is released, the contractor will be able to meet the deadline,” he explained. He described the project as critical to the transformation of Abuja, saying discussions with the Federal Ministry of Finance would continue until the required funds are made available. “This project is very important to us because it will significantly change the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.”

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The minister said the near completion of the Apo-Karshi Road and the expected delivery of the ISEX Road would mark the fulfilment of one of the administration’s major promises — to complete inherited projects rather than abandon them. “The Access (ISEX) Road will be the last major inherited project awarded by a previous administration to be completed. Once we achieve that, we can confidently say we have fulfilled our promise to complete projects inherited from previous administrations instead of allowing them to become abandoned.” Reflecting on the state of infrastructure when the Tinubu administration assumed office in 2023, Wike recalled that abandoned projects littered the capital city, slowing development and denying residents essential infrastructure. “The FCT is the nation’s capital, and having abandoned projects everywhere does not present a good image. When we assumed office in 2023, abandoned projects were scattered across the territory. That situation slowed development, delayed infrastructure delivery and affected communities.” Wike assured that between eight and ten major road projects across the FCT will be completed before the end of the year. The target includes the long-delayed Apo-Karshi road project, initially awarded in 2010 that suffered over a decade of delays. Work is now progressing rapidly under new management following the termination of the former contractor’s engagement over non-performance and its re-award to another company. At the Bwari-Kubwa corridor, the minister acknowledged the difficult terrain confronting engineers on site but cautioned contractors against seeking to push back agreed delivery dates, assuring that the administration would ensure prompt release of funds to enable completion of the road before the onset of heavy rains. Responding to questions on the political calendar and how it might affect project timelines, Wike insisted that governance remains a continuous process driven by President Bola Tinubu’s mandate. “Has the tenure of Mr President ended? Certainly not. His first tenure will be ending precisely May 29, 2027. So, if that is the case, it means that the work has also not ended,” he stated. The minister stressed that continuity in governance, not the pursuit of personal legacy, defines responsible leadership. “Leadership requires continuity. Some people assume office and say they will only focus on projects they initiated. That is not leadership. Good leadership is continuing projects that are vital to the development of the city, projects that transform the landscape and improve the economy.”