The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has alleged that politicians are conspiring to gain access to the N600 billion remaining in Rivers State’s coffers, following the lifting of a six-month emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu.
Wike made this claim during a meeting with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in Port Harcourt, stating that the revelation of the funds has drawn the attention of politicians from both within and outside the state. He expressed concern that these politicians are motivated not by goodwill but by the prospect of accessing the state’s resources.
According to Wike, certain prominent politicians who recently visited Rivers State have been publicly praising Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while strategically angling to benefit from the disclosed funds.
He remarked, “Given the experience in Nigerian politics, Nigerian politicians like Rivers money… That mistake you made announcing that there is N600 billion has triggered the interest of some politicians from other states.”
Wike accused these politicians of using attacks against him as a means to ingratiate themselves with the state government, claiming that criticizing him has become a tactic for gaining favor.
The controversy surrounding the N600 billion first emerged in November when the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly disclosed that Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) left the amount in the state coffers after his exit. Wike suggested that the announcement of such significant funds has effectively “opened the door” to political opportunists seeking to exploit the situation.
Governor Fubara has confirmed the existence of the funds, asserting that they are being utilized responsibly. Recent high-profile visits to Rivers State have further amplified political speculation, with Wike alleging that invoking the President’s name is another tactic for extracting benefits from the state.
Concluding his remarks, Wike commended the House of Assembly for adhering to a peace pact brokered by President Tinubu during previous political crises, emphasizing the need to uphold agreements for the state’s prosperity.
