By Ayo Kehinde
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political actors at the national level to desist from interfering in the political affairs of Rivers State, warning that the state’s support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election should not be taken for granted.
Wike gave the warning on Monday during a visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, where he stressed that Rivers made a conscious and collective political decision in 2023, taken in good faith and at great risk, which must be respected by all.
According to him, Rivers State remains unique in Nigeria’s political history as the only state where the two dominant political parties openly worked together during the last general elections, describing the alliance as deliberate and strategic.
“Let me warn those who come to Rivers State. You come here, you collect, and you open your mouth and start talking. I want to say it clearly: tell the National Secretary to leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have tried it before.
“Tell the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, ‘Leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have tried it before. Don’t take our support for President Tinubu for granted. You have to be careful with your statements. You’re enjoying yourself in Osun, but you don’t know those who did the work, and you’re opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State. Anything you see, take it. When President Tinubu comes back, I’ll tell the Minister of Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to warn him. I can challenge anybody. This state is a no-go area,” he said.
Wike warned that careless statements about Rivers’ politics could undermine the sacrifices made by political leaders and supporters in the state who worked to ensure the success of President Tinubu.
“Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted. You have to be careful with the statements you make. Today, you are enjoying your position, but you don’t know those who did the work,” he added.
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, the former Rivers governor said the decision to align across party lines was difficult but necessary, noting that the state took a major political gamble that eventually paid off.
“In 2023, it was tough. We made a decision without knowing where it would lead us. But in life, you must take a risk. For the glory of God, see where we are today,” he said.
Wike challenged other states to replicate Rivers’ political model, arguing that none had successfully coordinated such open cooperation between rival political parties.
“I challenge any state in this country: put the two major political parties together and see what it takes. This is the only state where you saw the two main parties working together. We did it in 2023,” he stated.
The FCT minister also expressed appreciation to the people of Oyigbo for their consistent political support over the years, describing them as key contributors to his political journey.
“It would be wrong for me to take your support for granted. There has never been a time I came to Oyigbo and asked for something you did not give me. We appreciate what God used you to do for us,” Wike said.
He insisted that Rivers State had already taken a firm political position and would not be pressured into changing course, stressing that the decision was neither imposed nor accidental.
“Rivers State has made a decision. We are not making a decision today—we took it already. Nobody forced us. We were the first state to do it, and we did not lose elections here,” he said.
Wike further warned against political actors who, according to him, encourage confrontation but retreat when consequences arise, leaving others to bear the burden.
“That is how they pushed the young man into trouble. When the trouble came, they ran away. Rivers State has taken a decision, and there is no going back,” he added.
He urged national political leaders to exercise restraint and respect the political autonomy of Rivers State.
“Take what you are talking and stop making unnecessary comments. Leave Rivers State alone.
We know what we are doing”, Wike said.
