Wike, Fubara rift: Adamawa APC stalwart, Uba Danarewa, urges party to tread softly
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Adamawa State, Alhaji Uba Danarewa, has cautioned the national leadership of his party against adopting a confrontational posture in its handling of the lingering political crisis between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
Danarewa’s intervention follows recent statements credited to the APC leadership affirming Governor Fubara as the party’s leader in Rivers State.
Related news
Defection: Don’t blame us for your impulsive decision – PDP hits gov Fubara
Calls for sack: Wike hits critics, says you can’t tell Tinubu what to do with me
My children have right to own land in Abuja – Wike
The remarks were widely interpreted by political observers as hostile to Wike, a former Rivers governor and a key political actor in the state.
Speaking on the development, the Adamawa APC stalwart described the rift between Wike and Fubara as a sensitive internal matter that requires tact, restraint, and diplomacy rather than open political alignment or public antagonism.
He likened the disagreement to a “father-and-son” rift, arguing that the unique political history between both men makes external interference particularly delicate.
“Wike single-handedly brought Governor Fubara from relative obscurity to national and political prominence. When you look at that relationship, you will understand that what is playing out today is more of a family disagreement than a conventional political crisis. Such situations require wisdom, patience, and behind-the-scenes mediation, not partisan interference,” he said.
Danarewa warned that an aggressive posture by the APC against Wike could prove counterproductive, especially given the FCT minister’s strategic importance to the current administration and his visible contributions to the party’s electoral success in 2023.
The APC chieftain urged his party to see Wike as an ally rather than an adversary, despite not being a card-carrying member of the APC.
“Here is a man who, though not officially in APC, played a significant role in the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. A personality of such political value, grit, and influence should not be treated casually, let alone subjected to open hostility,” he stated.
Danarewa further noted that Wike’s support for President Tinubu’s administration is an open secret and beyond mere rhetoric, stressing that the former Rivers governor has consistently demonstrated loyalty to the success of the government, even at great personal and political cost.
“Wike is boldly working for the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term both in statement and in action. This has earned him powerful enemies within his political party and severe backlash from both real and imaginary enemies. This alone should have made the APC to treat him with kindness,” he said.
He also praised Wike’s performance as FCT minister, describing him as one of the most impactful occupants of the office in Nigeria’s history.
According to Danarewa, the scale and visibility of infrastructural and developmental projects across Abuja have significantly boosted the image of the Tinubu administration.
“Apart from his political support, his solid imprints in the FCT with projects crisscrossing Abuja, have made him arguably the finest FCT minister Nigeria has produced. With the kind of work he is doing in Abuja, it will be difficult for APC, or our amiable president, to lose the 2027 election,” he said.
Danarewa urged the party leadership to adopt a broader, strategic view of the Rivers crisis, warning that alienating Wike could weaken the party’s national cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is the time for bridge-building not severance of relationships. The APC must deploy diplomacy and mediation, not confrontation, in dealing with the rift between two members of a family. This will no doubt amplify the strength of our party as we march towards 2027 election,” he said.
Danarewa noted that most of the times a good friend is more helpful and beneficial to a blood brother noting that Wike has over the years demonstrated courage and resilience in maintaining a sound and beneficial relationship with the APC.
He urged governor Fubara to follow the footprints of governors who ignore the snare of palace courtiers and maintained sound relationship with their benefactors.
”Fubara should not allow fifth columnist and conflict entrepreneurs to interfere in his relationship with his benefactor. He is still a young man with a promising future. I will advise him to follow the footsteps of governors who maintained sound relationship with their benefactors.
”Those governors include governor Aliyu of Sokoto who still refer to former governor Wammako as his leader, governor Zulum who still maintained an unalloyed support to his boss and current vice president Kashim Shettima and Abba Kabir of Kano who still treats Kwankwaso with exceptional reverence,” he said.
Reacting to the statement credited to presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala who asserts Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State, Danarewa said Bwala who opposed the Muslim/Muslim ticket with all his intellectual prowess when Wike, a core Christian supported the ticket against the wishes of majority of Christians lacked the moral standing to challenge Wike on loyalty to APC and the president.
He noted that the assumption of Bwala that Wike has been settled with the office of FCT minister is faulty as Wike was appointed to the office based on merit and track record of service and has been doing the Tinubu administration a great service for his epoch and sterling performance since he assumed office.
”Despite coming from a family consisting of Christians and Muslims, Bwala was one of the elements who opposed the Muslim/Muslim ticket vociferously. But Wike who came from a core Christian background accepted and supported the ticket wholeheartedly even against the wishes of his people. Between Wike and Bwala who is more helpful to APC and our president?” Danarewa queried.
The politician thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for remaining steadfast to his mission of rescuing Nigeria against all odds adding that his solid reforms and government policies are beginning to yield fruits.
Danarewa decried the attitude of northern ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet who are in the habit of abandoning their people noting that most of them are inaccessible to the larger northern populace.
”Most of the ministers of northern stock who should be the ambassadors of Tinubu in their constituencies have jettisoned the people. They have become inaccessible and have cocooned themselves in Abuja. With this attitude most of them may only end as liabilities to the presidential bid in 2027,” he said.
