Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has not sought his forgiveness, despite recent appeals from ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Wike, speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, insisted that forgiveness can only be considered when the person who committed an offence acknowledges it and makes a move toward reconciliation.
“There is no offence. It is when somebody has offended you personally that you are talking about the person seeking forgiveness or whatever,” Olayinka said. “As Christians, let’s now assume that Fubara has offended the minister, do you forgive someone who has not come to you to seek forgiveness?”
The statement came in response to Tompolo’s recent appeal for unity amid the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. Tompolo urged Wike to temper his anger and prioritise peace for the greater good.
“And just like I will not accept rebellion from my son, I will also not cause more problems,” Tompolo said in a statement. “Wike is angry, but he has to bring his temper down for the good of all. We will have a dialogue and resolve all lingering issues, and again Fubara will return to his seat.”
However, Olayinka reiterated that reconciliation must be initiated by the party that has allegedly done wrong.
“The person who has wronged you must first agree that in his mind he has wronged you,” he said. “Let’s assume that Fubara has offended the minister, has he come to seek forgiveness? I’m not saying there is an offence and there should be forgiveness, but he has not even come for forgiveness.”
Clarifying Wike’s position, Olayinka stressed that the minister has never made any claim of personal wrongdoing by Fubara. Instead, Wike’s concerns have centered on governance and loyalty to political allies.
“The minister has never said that Fubara offended him personally. He only said that Fubara should govern in accordance with the rule of law and that Fubara should not throw away those who risked their lives and resources—and that is not too much to ask,” he explained.
“He said, ‘Those who worked to make you governor, don’t throw them away like that’. So, that is not about forgiveness. If there is one person Fubara would say he has offended, it should be the President.”
Olayinka also questioned Fubara’s shift in stance toward Wike, recalling their past political alignment.
“He is the one to go for soul-searching because throughout the time he was working with this same Wike, throughout the time Wike was facing the bullet for him, Wike was not a bad person then. So, at what point did Wike become a bad person to him?” he asked.
“He should ask himself. When did Wike become somebody that Fubara would be so bold, telling him that he would deal with him? At what point? He should ask himself questions like this.”
Concluding with a proverb, Olayinka remarked: “You are begging a doctor to provide medicine for someone that is sick, but you are not begging the person that is sick to take the medicine. What happens?”