•Fubara credits project to FCT minister’s vision

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday, said President Bola Tinubu’s latest intervention in the lingering political crisis in Rivers State should mark the end of the discord rocking the state’s political landscape.

Wike spoke while inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, amid widespread media reports of a fresh peace move by the President to reconcile differences between the Rivers State governor and members of the State House of Assembly.

Addressing questions on the reported reconciliation, Wike dismissed speculative narratives surrounding the intervention, stressing that Tinubu acted in his capacity as a father of the nation with the best interest of Rivers people at heart.    

“All I can tell you is that the President has been very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be a problem between the legislators and the governor, as a father, he has the responsibility to intervene.”

He noted that this was the second time Tinubu had stepped in to douse tensions in the state and expressed confidence that the intervention would finally restore political stability.   
 
“I believe, by the grace of God, this will be the last time. I have told the state Assembly to do the needful and obey the President, and I know they will not hesitate. I also believe that the governor will carry out his own part so that Rivers people will no longer hear about this kind of discord,” he added.

Wike’s comments underscore the President’s growing role as a stabilising force amid intra-party and inter-branch tensions in Rivers State, where political disagreements have strained governance and legislative activities in recent months.

Meanwhile, the FCT minister used the opportunity of the inspection tour to assess the progress of key road projects in Abuja, including the N5 Road at Life Camp and the Karsana Road corridor.

MEANWHILE, Fubara has credited the vision of the Port Harcourt Ring Road project to his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to completing the project by October 2026.

The acknowledgement followed what was described as a fourth reconciliation meeting between Fubara and his estranged political benefactor, Wike, facilitated by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. Since the political crisis between the duo erupted on October 31, the President has intervened on four occasions in a bid to restore political harmony in the state.

One of Wike’s major grievances, publicly expressed during his January “thank-you” tour of local council areas in Rivers State, was that his successor had allegedly failed to acknowledge projects initiated under his administration, even during commissioning ceremonies.

However, yesterday, Fubara, during an inspection of the 50.15-kilometre Port Harcourt dual-carriage Ring Road, openly credited the project to Wike and assured that it would be completed and delivered by October 2026. The project had suffered delays and was reportedly abandoned before the declaration of a state of emergency in the state in March last year.