Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has criticised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for publicly stating that he met about N600 billion in state coffers after the lifting of emergency rule.

Wike spoke on Saturday at a Christmas carol event organised by his supporters in Rivers State, where he accused Fubara of attracting political pressure to the state by making the disclosure.

According to Wike, the announcement had drawn politicians from outside Rivers who, he claimed, were now visiting the state to criticise him and seek access to its resources.

“If you have experience in Nigerian politics, you will know that Nigerian politicians like Rivers’ money,” Wike said. “Go and study it.”

He argued that publicly declaring the size of the state’s funds was a mistake, saying it had encouraged political actors to take advantage of the situation.

“If you want to make money in Rivers today, I don’t know how you made the mistake of announcing that there is N600 billion,” he said. “By doing that, you opened the door.”

Wike claimed that visiting politicians now feel compelled to publicly distance themselves from him in order to gain favour in the state.

“Everybody who comes to Rivers State today must say, ‘Wike’s time is over’ or ‘the president is happy with you’, and then they collect,” he said, without providing evidence.

His comments followed a recent visit to Rivers State by a federal government delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu as part of efforts to restore oil operations in Ogoniland. During the visit, Ribadu told Fubara that his approach ti resolving tensions pleased President Bola Tinubu.

Wike warns against breaking political agreements

Wike also warned politicians against reneging on agreements, saying failure to honour political deals often has consequences.

“If you know you cannot abide by an agreement, don’t enter into it,” he said. “If you break it, it will catch up with you.”

Although he did not name Fubara directly, Wike’s remarks appeared linked to the governor’s recent decision to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move the FCT minister reportedly sees as a breach of an earlier political understanding between them.

One of the conditions attached to Fubara’s reinstatement by President Tinubu was an agreement that he would not seek re-election in 2027.