Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has asked his supporters to stop referring to him as their political leader, declaring that he now recognises the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as the leader of the Rainbow Coalition following their reconciliation.
The Rainbow Coalition is a political platform initiated by Wike to bring together members of different political parties in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Fubara said he was aware that some supporters who stood by him during his political dispute with Wike still addressed him as their leader during meetings, but insisted that the disagreement had been resolved.
The governor said he had returned to his political family and accepted Wike’s leadership despite being the sitting governor.
He spoke on Tuesday at the unveiling of the Rainbow Coalition’s candidates for the 2027 elections in Rivers State, held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
The rift between Fubara and his predecessor began in October 2023, barely six months after the governor assumed office. Wike, who had backed Fubara’s emergence as governor, fell out with him over control of the state’s political structures and the influence of the former governor’s loyalists in the House of Assembly.
The dispute escalated into impeachment moves against Fubara, a split in the Assembly and legal battles over control of the state. A peace deal brokered by President Tinubu in December 2023 failed to resolve the differences, which continued over budgetary matters, local government elections and political appointments.
On 18 March 2025, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy and members of the state legislature for six months. Fubara returned to office in September 2025, although political tensions persisted. Amid the crisis, he was reportedly prevented from pursuing a second term.
Addressing coalition members, Fubara repeatedly referred to Wike as “my oga”, acknowledging the minister’s role in his emergence as governor.
He said: “Let me say something here so that it will always help us while we move forward. I’m aware there are some issues where some persons who followed me when we had the crisis, when you’re at your meeting, you say, ‘My leader, my leader’.
“We are now in one house. And because we have one house, there is no issue about who is the leader. I might be your oga (governor), but we have a common leader now. So, please, going forward, this issue of my leader, my leader, my leader, I want it resolved here and now.”
While handing over flags to the coalition’s candidates, Fubara again acknowledged Wike’s leadership.
“Having taken care of that, let me continue. Your Excellency, my oga, the leader of the Rainbow Coalition. Let me borrow the language of the PDP man. He said our G.O. You’re the G.O. of Rainbow Coalition,” he said.
The governor expressed delight at the reconciliation, describing the coalition as his political family and pledging to work towards Tinubu’s re-election and the victory of its candidates in Rivers State in 2027.
“I’m really happy to be here. Not just being here, but standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor of Rivers State if God Almighty had not passed through my oga and other leaders to make it possible in our dear state,” he said.
Fubara added that he was grateful that the political leaders had reunited and pledged to contribute to their shared political objectives.
“I want to say that I’m here with all my heart, my soul and my body, and I will do everything within my power to ensure that we have victory not just for Mr President, who has stood by me in my most difficult time, but also to ensure that this power remains in our own bloc,” he said.
He added that political power should remain under the leadership of Wike, whom he described as the leader of the coalition.
Fubara described the unveiling of the candidates as a rare honour and expressed confidence in their prospects ahead of the 2027 elections. He said he would personally unveil the coalition’s principal candidate while inviting another official to assist with announcing the remaining candidates as he presented their flags.
Wike Calls for Support for Tinubu
In his remarks, Wike said the Rainbow Coalition was not intended to create political crises but to unite members of different parties in support of Tinubu’s re-election.
“I have said it, and let me reiterate that the Rainbow Coalition means no harm but to bring people of all the various political parties together to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
The minister warned against handing over power to people he described as “political gamblers” in 2027.
Wike, who is a national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also directed party members across the states to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
In a veiled reference to former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Wike alleged financial misconduct during Amaechi’s administration and questioned whether Nigerians should entrust power to him and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Amaechi has not been formally charged with a crime in connection with his tenure as governor.
Wike also criticised Amaechi for opposing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid while supporting the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
He questioned the strength of opposition political parties in Rivers State and dismissed efforts by rival groups to organise against the coalition.
“There is nothing wrong with that. I’m aware some people may have put themselves together for the sake of it, but it may not be proper for all of us to be in one political party. Let them go and see if they can get something from the other side,” he said.
Wike also turned his criticism towards the ADC and its presidential candidate, Abubakar, referencing his own participation in the PDP presidential primaries.
“Who wants to run as President under ADC? Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Do you know him? I pray you never know him,” he said.
“I ran together with him in the 2022 presidential primaries. In 2019, I was one of the biggest sponsors for that presidential election,” Wike added.
