Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he will not recommend commissioners to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as the latter resumes office following the end of a six-month emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Wike stressed that he has no candidates to suggest and would give Fubara a free hand to manage the oil-rich South-South state.
“I cannot go and impose anything on the governor. Why would I impose anything on the governor? Assuming I go to the governor and say, ‘I want this,’ will the state collapse? I have no candidate and I will not (recommend commissioners),” he said.
The former Rivers State governor added that even if Fubara sought his input, he would still insist the governor govern as he deems fit.
“Even if the governor comes to me now and says, ‘We have agreed we want to work together,’ which is natural, I will say, ‘Look, I give you free hand; you know what you want for the state.’ All I would want to say is: I know what I did and what I have done to keep this state at this level — don’t drop it, move ahead. As I speak to you, I left the state where it can compete favourably with Lagos,” Wike said.
He also clarified that there is no legal requirement for Fubara to resume office on the same day the emergency rule ended.
“There is no law that says he must resume work today. He is the governor. I don’t understand the way we operate. If I was sworn in today as governor, it does not mean I must go to the office tomorrow. You don’t know what my schedule is; you don’t know what the governor’s schedule is; you don’t know where he is,” Wike explained.
