Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has declared that no single individual has the authority to control the state, affirming his commitment to standing for the truth and safeguarding the interests of the Rivers people. He made this statement during a thanksgiving service at St. Paul Cathedral in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Fubara’s remarks come in the wake of escalating tensions between him and Nyesom Wike the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), regarding control of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers. Wike recently took credit for Fubara’s election as governor, while PDP elders in Rivers issued an apology to Wike, suggesting that Fubara lacks the necessary political experience.

In his address to the congregation, Fubara rejected the apology, stating, “Nobody can apologise for me.” He emphasized that while loyalty is crucial, he would not compromise his principles or well-being for anyone, underscoring his dedication to truth and justice for the people of Rivers. Fubara also criticized Wike indirectly for seeking validation and suggested that the minister’s desperation indicates a decline in his influence. “Rivers State is nobody’s enterprise. So, you have to stand strong,” he asserted, reinforcing his position as the state’s governor.

The ongoing fallout between Fubara and Wike has led to a division within the PDP in Rivers, creating a rift within both the party and the state’s house of assembly.