The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike said on Tuesday that Siminalayi Fubara “had no other choice” but to return to the political family that produced him as Rivers State governor because there was no other alternative for him.

Mr Wike, after inspecting ongoing road projects in Abuja, said he expected Mr Fubara’s return to his political camp after their prolonged feud over the control of Rivers State.

“I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him,” Mr Wike said.

Mr Wike’s remarks followed Mr Fubara’s declaration last week that he had aligned with the Rainbow Coalition, a political group led by the minister, to advance the interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers.

“I have gone back to our family. The time of war is over,” Mr Fubara partly said in Port Harcourt on July 22, while also declaring support for President Bola Tinubu and the Rivers governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, for the 2027 elections.

“I have now been informed that he has made that declaration publicly, and we welcome him,” the minister said. “Our doors are open. Everyone is welcome for us to work together. There is no better alternative. We will all work together to move the state forward.”

Mr Wike said Mr Fubara, his political protégé, had realised he “was on the wrong path,” admitted his mistakes, and was now correcting them.

“Politics is not a sin. What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and making the right decision,” he stated.

Mr Wike added that he would work with the governor to secure Mr Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

“He has publicly stated that he has returned to where he started, and we receive him with an open mind. There is nothing to hide. We will all work together to ensure that we deliver the votes President Tinubu needs for his re-election,” he said.

Messrs Wike and Fubara were at loggerheads over control of the state’s political structure, resulting in a dispute between the governor and members of the Rivers assembly loyal to the minister.

On January 8, the Rivers State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Mr Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over alleged gross misconduct and unconstitutional expenditure.  

Mr Fubara had also dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling APC amid the leadership tussle with Mr Wike.

The nearly three-year feud eventually ended following Mr Tinubu’s intervention and the governor’s decision to withdraw his re-election bid.

“It is enough to say that I have faced immense pressures and difficult choices, but my love for Rivers State remains greater than anything else,” he said partly in a statement announcing his withdrawal.