Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a fresh political attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, questioning their political records and positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, as Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, publicly closed ranks with him and pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike, who challenged Atiku over his presidential ambition on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and accused Amaechi of failing to fulfil promises made during his tenure as governor, declared that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across Rivers and other states should support Tinubu, irrespective of their political affiliations.
The minister spoke on Tuesday at the unveiling of candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt, an event that brought together Fubara, former governor and senator, Magnus Abe, and candidates from six political parties, signalling a renewed political alliance following the prolonged crisis that divided the state’s political leadership. The gathering also provided a platform for Fubara to publicly acknowledge Wike’s role in his emergence as governor and declare that their political family had reunited for the good of Rivers State.
Wike, who leads the Rainbow Coalition, said the alliance was established to bring together political interests across party lines and consolidate support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
He insisted that membership of the PDP should not prevent political leaders and their supporters from backing the President.
“Every PDP member in Rivers State will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every PDP member in Kwara State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every PDP member in Benue State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he declared.
The minister extended the appeal to PDP members in Ondo, Ogun and other states, maintaining that political differences should not stand in the way of cooperation among those supporting Tinubu.
Turning to the opposition, Wike questioned Atiku’s presidential ambition and what he described as inconsistencies in the former vice president’s political agreements and positions.
He also criticised Amaechi’s record as Rivers State governor between 2007 and 2015, revisiting promises made during his administration, including commitments concerning malaria prevention and other development programmes.
Wike further raised allegations about the management of public funds during Amaechi’s tenure, referring to a judicial panel of inquiry and subsequent court proceedings.
The claims were made by the minister, and no response from Amaechi to the latest allegations was contained in the report.
Wike maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was committed to political cooperation and peace, warning against actions capable of plunging Rivers State into another crisis.
He thanked Fubara for attending the event and unveiling the coalition’s candidates, describing the governor as a member of the political family brought together by the alliance.
Responding, Fubara acknowledged Wike’s contribution to his emergence as governor and expressed satisfaction that political leaders who had been divided by their differences were once again working together.
“I’m really happy to be here. Not just being here, standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor of Rivers State if, by the grace of Almighty, I had not passed through my oga and other leaders to make it possible in our dear state,” Fubara said.
The governor, whose disagreement with Wike had generated a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, said the reconciliation represented an opportunity to rebuild relationships and work towards a common objective.
“So no matter what has happened, 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 declared.
Fubara pledged to work towards Tinubu’s re-election and support efforts to ensure that political power remained within the bloc represented by the Rainbow Coalition.
Also speaking, Abe challenged Amaechi to withdraw as Atiku’s running mate, arguing that the former governor’s reported decision to join the presidential ticket contradicted the principle of power rotation between northern and southern Nigeria.
Abe maintained that the Rainbow Coalition’s support for Tinubu was partly informed by the belief that the South should complete eight years in the presidency following the eight-year administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He recalled Amaechi’s previous arguments in favour of respecting political arrangements on the rotation of the presidency, insisting that the former governor should remain consistent with that position.
“On behalf of all of us here gathered in Rivers State, we want to call on Amaechi to immediately respect his own position and resign as the vice-presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar, because it is the turn of the South, and Rivers State will stand by the agreement between the North and the South,” Abe said.
He also urged Atiku to respect the power rotation arrangement, arguing that the presidency should remain in the South for another four years.
The former governor maintained that Rivers State political leaders supporting the coalition were committed to the understanding on power rotation and would work towards Tinubu’s re-election.
Speaking on behalf of candidates from six political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, said the Rainbow Coalition was seeking to replace divisive party politics with collective leadership focused on the development of Rivers State.
Chinda pledged that candidates elected under the coalition’s arrangement would pursue inclusive governance, taking into consideration the interests of different political parties, genders and religious groups.
“We are going to run a government for the people, that will place the interests of Rivers people first,” he said.
He maintained that the alliance should extend beyond the 2027 elections, with participating parties contributing to governance and the development of the state rather than allowing partisan differences to obstruct government programmes.
Chinda also pledged efforts towards peaceful elections, a smooth political transition and an administration focused on improving the welfare of Rivers residents.
The Rainbow Coalition’s unveiling of candidates and the public reconciliation between Wike and Fubara marked another development in the realignment of political interests in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, with leaders from different parties declaring support for Tinubu’s second-term bid despite their separate political affiliations.
Credit: The Sun