Fubara: ‘Wike Doesn’t Own Rivers, He Doesn’t Own The People’ – Kio-Briggs

Prominent Niger Delta activist and member of the Rivers State Elders Forum, Ann Kio-Briggs, has condemned recent remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, regarding the political future of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

In an interview with Punch, Kio-Briggs described Wike’s vow to block Fubara’s re-election in 2027 as a direct threat to the state and its people.

Reacting to the escalating political tensions between the former governor and his successor, Kio-Briggs said no individual can lay an absolute claim to a state or its political direction.

She said, “Let me put it like this, Nyesom Wike is a former Governor of Rivers State. He is a son of Rivers State. Wike is the Minister of the Federal Capital and a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.

“Nobody can claim that any one individual has 100 per cent support in any state in Nigeria, in any place in the world. You cannot have 100 per cent support even when you put a gun to somebody’s head, the support is not 100 per cent.

“The minister is not the owner of Rivers State. He doesn’t own Rivers State, and he doesn’t own the people of Rivers State.”

Kio-Briggs further affirmed the legitimacy of Governor Fubara’s mandate, arguing that only the people can determine who governs them.

“Nobody can claim that the present governor is not the Governor of Rivers State; nobody can claim how many people can vote for him or cannot vote for him. But as of today, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has the majority of votes of the people of Rivers State,” she said.

Political Ambition Should Not Breed Chaos

Condemning Wike’s alleged threats to block Fubara’s second-term bid, Kio-Briggs warned that such actions undermine the state’s stability and democratic values.

Kio-Briggs said, “It’s almost like a threat that Siminalayi Fubara is not going to come back; it’s actually a threat to Rivers State itself, and it is also a threat to the people of Rivers State themselves, and it is not acceptable.

“It is unfair to the people of Rivers State who are being put through this because of political ambition.”

The activist emphasised that the people of Rivers State are more interested in peace and governance than in political battles.

She said, “The people of Rivers State that I know and that I’m in touch with as of today, the majority of the people are in support of the present Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

“And what I know is that what the Rivers people want is peace. We want peace in our state, and the people of Rivers State want to be allowed to choose a man or woman of their choice.

“If at the end of the day, Sir Siminalayi Fubara is the choice of the people, it is only if God allows anybody that they can overturn that choice of the people.”

She urged all political actors to prioritise stability above party lines.

Kio-Briggs added, “I think that any true son or daughter of Rivers State should want peace and tranquillity in our state, no matter the political party you belong to.”