Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has urged his supporters to stop addressing him as their political leader, declaring that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, remains the leader of their political camp following their reconciliation.

Fubara made the declaration on Tuesday during the unveiling of candidates of the Rainbow Coalition for the 2027 elections at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

The governor said those who supported him during his political disagreement with Wike should now recognise that they belonged to the same political family and respect the minister’s leadership.

He acknowledged that some of his loyalists continued to refer to him as their leader during meetings but insisted that such descriptions were no longer necessary after the resolution of the dispute.

“We are now in one house. And because we have one house, there is no issue about who is the leader. I might be your oga (governor), but we have a common leader now,” Fubara said.

He added, “So please, going forward, this issue of ‘my leader, my leader, my leader’, I want it resolved here and now.”

Fubara openly acknowledged Wike as the leader of the Rainbow Coalition, describing the FCT minister as the political figure around whom members of the group should rally.

Addressing Wike at the event, the governor said, “Your Excellency, my oga. The leader of Rainbow Coalition. Let me borrow the language of the PDP man. He said ‘our G.O.’ You’re the G.O. of Rainbow Coalition.”

The governor also expressed happiness over his reunion with members of the political camp, crediting Wike and other political leaders for their roles in his emergence as governor.

“I’m really happy to be here. Not just being here, but standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor of Rivers State if God Almighty had not passed through my oga and other leaders to make it possible in our dear state,” he said.

Beyond reaffirming his political allegiance to Wike, Fubara declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and pledged to work towards the victory of all Rainbow Coalition candidates in Rivers State.

He said Tinubu had supported him during one of the most difficult periods of his administration and deserved his backing in the next presidential election.

“So no matter what has happened, I’m very grateful today that one way or the other we are back together for a better course and for the good of our dear state,” the governor stated.

He added, “I want to say that I’m here with all my heart, my soul and my body, and I will do everything within my power to ensure that we have victory, not just for Mr President, who has stood for me in my most difficult time, but also to ensure that this power still remains in our own bloc.”

Fubara further maintained that political power in Rivers State should remain under Wike’s leadership.

“That it (power) doesn’t go to any other place apart from where it is still standing, which is under the leadership of His Excellency Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

At the event, the governor presented flags to candidates of the Rainbow Coalition and expressed confidence in their chances of winning the 2027 elections.

His remarks signal a renewed public alignment between Fubara and Wike following the political crisis that strained their relationship and divided political interests in Rivers State.