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![Siminlayi Fubara and Nyesom Ezenwo Wike [Facebook]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'100'%20height%3D'100'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Siminlayi Fubara and Nyesom Ezenwo Wike [Facebook]")
Wike spoke during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today on Friday, September 13, 2024.
The FCT minister has been embroiled in a political dispute with his successor in Rivers State, Governor Siminaliyi Fubara, over the control of the party's leadership.
The duo broke apart a few months after Wike's exit from the office over disagreements on the governance of the oil-rich state.
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The ensuing crisis has negatively impacted governance in the state, with a majority of lawmakers in the state assembly pitching their tent with Wike.
Their political feud also created a logjam within the PDP as the party struggled to reconcile the erstwhile allies.
![PDP governors [X:@PNMbah]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'790'%20height%3D'528'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "PDP governors [X:@PNMbah]")
PDP governors [X:@PNMbah]
Pulse Nigeria
PDP governors take sides with Fubara
However, rising from their meeting in Taraba last month, the PDP Governors' Forum, through a statement by its Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, said it had resolved to recognise Fubara as the party's leader.
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The forum called for a review of the party congress outcome to restore Fubara’s leadership role in the state.
Infuriated by the PDP governors' decision, Wike threatened to put fire in their states if they proceed with their plans.
He warned the governors to steer clear of the party's affairs in the Rivers to avoid being visited by crisis in their states.
“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take,'' he said while speaking during the party’s state congress held at the PDP Secretariat in Port Harcourt on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
![Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) [News Digest Nigeria]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'345'%20height%3D'268'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) [News Digest Nigeria]")
Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) [News Digest Nigeria]
Pulse Nigeria
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Wike doubles down on threat despite backlash.
The minister's remarks attracted wide criticism from various quarters, including the PDP governors who called on security agencies to investigate the threat.
When asked if he felt sorry for making such a threat, Wike doubled down and reiterated that he was ready to take on anyone who attempted to wrest the PDP structure in Rivers from him.
''I said to the governors forum, I repeat without any apology to anybody who is anywhere, for crying out loud, heaven will never fall and even if it falls, there will be peace,'' he stated.
The minister said the governors' move amounted to an attempt to violate the party's constitution and thwart an ongoing legal process, stressing that he has the capacity to spark a political crisis in their states as a response.
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''And you mean that you want to violate the processes and constitution of our party. You came out on national television after your meeting. One that's governor of Bauchi State, the chairman of the PDP governors' forum, who came out to read a communique with his colleagues that they're going to make sure that their brother, their friend in Rivers State, will take over the structure.
''It doesn't matter whether it's illegal or legal. It doesn't matter whatever process they take and I'm sitting as a minister of FCT from that state. You look at it that there is nobody in that state, you make such a statement and I should fold my hand because you said you're a governor, which I was never before? I was never a governor? And you look at me and tell me that? And you're telling me I should fold my hand to say everything will be well?'' he defended his words.
When asked if that's enough reason for the threat, Wike said he was only trying to protect his turf.
''You're trying to cause crisis in my state politically, what do you want me to do?'' he asked.
On whether he regretted making the statement, the former Governor said, ''How can I regret it? I didn't make any bad statement.''
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However, after the show anchor stated that the comment bears a violent connotation, Wike said ''It connotes violence?''
He added: ''Where is the violence? What's fire? It's a speech. Here's what I say, you want to cause a crisis in my state, you too will also have a crisis in your state. I never said that Bauchi State would be on fire. I never said that Oyo State would be on fire. What's my business?
"What I'm saying is, if you don't want my state to be politically stable if you illegally, unconstitutionally interfere in a legal process that's going and you want me to fold my hand to say because you're a governor or because you're the chairman of a governors' forum or because you're members of the governors' forum.
"People took form, people have been elected, people have been sworn in, you will use your position to now say okay, NWC, cancel it. We're the governors.
"Who told you I don't have the capacity to say you too in your state, that crisis will be there. I'm not talking about going to Bauchi to go and bomb Bauchi. I didn't say go to Oyo to burn Oyo.''
