The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that his political tussle in Rivers State is not against the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, but rather against individuals he claims are manipulating the governor.

In an interview with BBC Pidgin published on Saturday, Wike described Fubara as his political son, emphasizing the personal nature of their relationship despite the ongoing crisis in Rivers State.

"That one is not a battle. He (Fubara) is my boy, he is my son, why will I fight with him?" Wike stated. "I'm only fighting against people who want to steal what they did not work for."

The FCT Minister further explained his approach to the political situation: "When you don't defeat them, they will think you... Defeat them to the final stage. Now, they are ashamed because they are being defeated. They are the ones pushing Fubara."

The political crisis in Rivers State has been ongoing since 2023, with tensions between Wike and his former protégé Fubara escalating to unprecedented levels. The situation reached a critical point when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and subsequently suspended Governor Fubara from office.

There have been reports that Fubara had tendered apologies to Wike, his former boss who supported his gubernatorial candidacy, though these claims have not been officially confirmed by either party.

The Rivers crisis has seen multiple confrontations between supporters of both political figures, including recent clashes during town hall meetings in Port Harcourt.

Political observers continue to monitor the situation closely as the state navigates through this period of uncertainty under the state of emergency declared by the federal government.