Wike Discovered Me,’ Fubara Dedicates Award to FCT Minister

 

You could feel the room shift when Governor Siminalayi Fubara stepped up to accept his “Man of the Year” award. Instead of the usual victory lap or self-congratulatory speech, he did something quietly striking. He dedicated the entire honour to his predecessor and former political mentor, Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The moment unfolded on Friday, February 13, 2026, during the New Telegraph Awards and Dinner Night in Lagos. After months of very public tension with Wike, the man who once propelled him to power, Fubara chose the spotlight to extend what many saw as a heartfelt olive branch. The gesture carried weight, especially coming from a governor who has walked a tightrope since taking office in 2023.

In his acceptance speech, Fubara opened up about the heavy burdens of leadership in Rivers State. He reflected on the personal cost of steering the ship through stormy political waters. Critics had often painted his calm, measured approach as weakness. He pushed back gently but firmly. “I choose to be weak because I want peace in my state and to protect the things that are not visible,” he said. That line landed with quiet force. It revealed a deliberate strategy: swallow pride, absorb pressure, and shield ordinary people from the fallout of elite power struggles.

He spoke candidly about the strain governance had placed on him and those who stood by him through the worst of the crisis. Loyalties fractured. The Peoples Democratic Party splintered. The state became a theatre of legal battles and legislative standoffs. Yet Fubara insisted his restraint wasn’t cowardice. It was a conscious choice to prevent further escalation and preserve whatever fragile peace remained.

Then came the emotional pivot that caught many off guard. Turning his attention to Wike, the governor referred to him warmly as “my Oga.” With visible sincerity, he credited the former Rivers governor for discovering his potential and thrusting him into the political limelight. “I do not care how you interpret it or misinterpret it,” Fubara declared to applause. “I also dedicate this award to somebody who discovered me, not minding the situation – the Honourable Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.”

He didn’t stop there. “He discovered me, and it is the discovery that gave me this loudness. Without him, I wouldn’t be standing here as governor.” The words carried real weight. After all, Wike had been the architect of Fubara’s rise – from his days as Accountant-General in Wike’s administration to his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate in 2023. That backing proved decisive. Now, in a room full of media, business leaders, and political heavyweights, Fubara was publicly acknowledging the debt.

The timing made the tribute even more intriguing. Observers have noticed tentative signs of reconciliation between the two men in recent weeks. President Bola Tinubu and other influential figures reportedly played key roles behind the scenes, nudging both sides toward de-escalation. Public statements from both camps have begun signalling a willingness to move past the bitter rift for the sake of Rivers State’s stability and development. Could this award dedication be another step in that delicate healing process?

Fubara didn’t forget the people who mattered most. He poured out gratitude to God, his family, the resilient people of Rivers State, and everyone who endured what he called the “special pain” of standing with him during the turbulence. The award, he insisted, wasn’t just about him. It represented collective endurance – a recognition of all those who kept faith in good governance even when the political atmosphere turned toxic.

The New Telegraph “Man of the Year” honour celebrates outstanding leadership, impact, and integrity. For Fubara, it spotlighted his determined push to deliver infrastructure projects and economic initiatives amid relentless distractions. Legal fights, assembly crises, and security headaches could have paralysed any administration. Yet he kept emphasising delivery to the people – roads, services, opportunities in an oil-rich state that deserves far more than endless headlines about division.

Political analysts are already reading between the lines. Many view the tribute as a strategic gesture, a public acknowledgement that could smooth the path toward broader reconciliation. Wike remains a formidable force in Rivers politics and within the PDP nationally. His assertive style and deep influence haven’t faded since he left office. His role in Fubara’s 2023 victory was undeniable, even if disagreements over party control and governance priorities later erupted into open confrontation.

In Nigerian politics, relationships are rarely simple. Loyalty, mentorship, betrayal, and pragmatism often tangle together in surprising ways. Fubara’s words reminded everyone of that intricate web. Yesterday’s godfather can become today’s rival, only to re-emerge as a necessary partner when stability is on the line.

The Lagos event pulled in prominent faces from media, business, and politics, underscoring just how closely the nation watches Rivers State. One of Nigeria’s most resource-rich yet politically volatile states, its internal dramas rarely stay internal. They ripple outward, affecting party fortunes, investment decisions, and even national conversations about federalism and power-sharing.

As Rivers looks forward, many residents are hoping this public gesture marks the beginning of genuine collaboration rather than another fleeting truce. Will the cooling of tensions translate into smoother governance? Can old mentors and protégés find common ground again without fresh eruptions? These questions hang in the air.

Governor Fubara’s decision to dedicate his award to “my Oga” stands as a poignant moment in an ongoing saga of power, loyalty, and the constant search for peace. In a country where political narratives shift rapidly, this simple act of public gratitude felt refreshingly human – a reminder that even amid fierce rivalries, some bonds and debts refuse to vanish completely.

It may not resolve every underlying issue. It may not magically heal every wound. But in the theatre of Rivers politics, where every statement is dissected for hidden meaning, Fubara’s tribute sent a clear signal: he remembers where he came from, and he’s choosing, at least for tonight, to honour that journey rather than bury it.

And sometimes, in the messy world of Nigerian leadership, that small act of acknowledgment can speak louder than any fiery press release or courtroom victory.