Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has accused former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili of encouraging Governor Siminalayi Fubara to disregard a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
The crisis, which began in 2023, has seen a power struggle between Wike and his successor, Governor Fubara.
Despite interventions by key party stakeholders, including Tinubu, tensions remain high.
The two camps had agreed to an eight-point peace deal during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
However, the agreement soon collapsed, with Fubara claiming he was coerced into signing the deal.
At a Port Harcourt event on December 28, Odili praised Fubara for allegedly resisting Wike’s attempts to dominate the state.
Odili, who governed Rivers State for two terms, accused Wike of pursuing personal interests.
In response, Wike, speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday, blamed Odili for the failure of the peace pact.
He accused the former governor of misleading Fubara into defying Tinubu’s directives.
Wike stated, “Odili accused someone of turning Rivers State into a private estate. But the real person attempting that is you.
“Instead of supporting peace, you encouraged the governor to disregard the President’s agreement.”
Wike also defended his controversial political decisions, including opposing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the party’s former chairman, Uche Secondus.
He reiterated his commitment to the South, producing Nigeria’s president, and expressed support for Tinubu’s leadership.
“I make no apologies for opposing Atiku or Secondus. I have no regrets backing Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Tough decisions are being made for the country’s benefit, and we must support the President,” Wike said, adding that he had never lost an election and had always backed winning candidates.
Wike urged Nigerians to pray for Tinubu, expressing optimism that the President’s policies would yield positive results in 2025.