Tony Okocha, the embattled Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has boldly declared that the political structure of Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), remains resilient and unbreakable, despite the growing political rift within the state.
Speaking in Abuja, Okocha expressed confidence in Wike’s political machinery, noting that the minister’s influence continues to dominate the political landscape of Rivers State. He also pointed out that Governor Siminialayi Fubara, Wike’s successor, might be creating obstacles for himself by not adhering to the political strategy that helped him rise to power.
Okocha claimed that efforts are already underway to weaken Fubara’s political standing ahead of the 2027 governorship elections. He hinted that strategic moves are being made to diminish Fubara’s influence, which could lead to a tough battle for the governor in the future.
“Fubara is creating problems for himself,” Okocha remarked. “It is our business to demarket him and his party for us to win in 2027.”
The ongoing conflict between Wike and Fubara has escalated in recent months, with reports indicating that despite mediation efforts from President Bola Tinubu and other key political figures, tensions persist. Wike has publicly expressed a willingness to resolve the differences, but he insists that Fubara must operate within the confines of the law and maintain loyalty to the political structure that brought him to power.
“Wike made it possible for Fubara to emerge as governor. Fubara was never a politician before Wike’s intervention,” Okocha emphasized, reinforcing the minister’s critical role in Fubara’s rise to the governorship.
Despite the growing discord, Okocha expressed confidence in the enduring strength of Wike’s political network, which he believes will be difficult for any politician to dismantle in the near future. “I can say to you that for the next 10 years, I do not see any politician destroying the political structure Wike has in Rivers State,” he stated. “I’m not God, but I’m talking about what is possible within human possibility. Wike’s structure cannot be destroyed. It is not possible, not so soon. Let’s leave it there.”
