The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has pushed back against recent remarks credited to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, suggesting that some loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have shifted allegiance to President Bola Tinubu.
Governor Fubara had made the claim while addressing guests at a New Year banquet held on Thursday, the 1st of January, 2026, in Port Harcourt, where he listed Prince Uche Secondus, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Alabo Abiye Sekibo and former Governor Sir Celestine Omehia as figures now aligned with both himself and President Tinubu.
Responding to the development, Wike dismissed the political relevance of those mentioned, arguing that they failed to deliver meaningful electoral value to Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential poll.
The FCT Minister spoke on the matter on Friday, the 2nd of January, during an engagement in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he pledged unwavering backing for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to Wike: “I heard somebody (Fubara) say, ‘Oh, those who want Atiku are back.’ they couldn’t give Atiku 10% in 2023, so what is the political advantage?
“I won’t call their names but you all know them, we will do all we can to see that we give Tinubu the total support that is required.”
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Wike also took aim at the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Mbata, over comments in which he was described as a semi-illiterate, describing the remark as both unnecessary and ironic.
He stated: “Ordinarily, I won’t have bothered myself but I will say it. Somebody who was a former senator said the FCT Minister is a semi-illiterate but the same person dropped out from Rivers State University when he was reading law, he could not make it.
“I meant to University of Port Harcourt, finished, went to the same university he dropped out and went to the law school, today, I’m life bencher.
“The semi-illiterate has the fourth highest national award in Nigeria.”