Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating it was a necessary step to prevent the state from sliding into total chaos.

Speaking during a media parley with Arise News on Friday, Wike emphasized that the president acted in good faith.

“The president didn’t want the situation to degenerate into full-blown anarchy,” he said. 

“He did what was necessary. Without the declaration, no funds would have gone to the state.”

Wike also voiced support for the appointment of a Sole Administrator in Rivers, stressing that while declaring a state of emergency is an unusual move, it was justified under the present circumstances.

Acknowledging the political tension between himself and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike questioned the governor’s silence.
“If I am the cause of the problem, has he ever called me as an elder to say, ‘Let’s sit down and talk’?” he asked. “Has anyone bothered to genuinely address the issues?”

He accused some actors of avoiding dialogue and allowing the situation to escalate unnecessarily. While admitting that emergency rule is not ideal, Wike maintained that Tinubu made the right decision to preserve peace and ensure governance in the troubled state.