Indigenes of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State are divided over the visit of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, with majority of them saying he is not welcome to their homeland.
In continuation of his LGA “Thank You” tour across the State, Wike will be visiting Bonny LGA on Thursday, January 8, 2026 and the event is billed to hold at the Industrial Unit Field along Hospital Road in Bonny, Rivers State.
Given how the visits played out in other LGAs already visited by the FCT Minister, Kristina Reports asked various indigenes and resident of Bonny their view of the imminent visit. While some expressed aversion to it some welcomed it wholeheartedly.
Wike’s 8 Years Neglect, Visible in Bonny – Community Leader
Chairman of Sandfield Community in Bonny LGA, Brown Ada Allison stated that Wike’s eight years neglect of Bonny as Governor is visible, saying that when it comes to Wike, “it appears only negative things happen to our beloved Bonny Town”, dismissing the visit as being of no value to the LGA.
“It’s visible to see that he does not love us because during his eight years as Governor he didn’t do any project in Bonny. You don’t need anybody to tell you of that.”
Wike is Coming to Insult Bonny People – Ex-LGA Chairman
A former Chairman of Bonny LGA, Anengi Claude-Wilcox flayed the visit as one of divisiveness, asserting that the FCT Minister is coming to insult Bonny people and incite them to fight their Ibani Ijaw brother, Siminalayi Fubara, pointing out that in his eight years in office as Governor he did nothing for the LGA.
“How can it be a welcome development? For 8 years, he was in office did he visit Bonny LGA? Did he follow up with the so-called BNGS project? He didn’t.”
“He didn’t consider commissioning any project in Bonny. So, what is he coming to tell us? He is coming to insult us further by telling us he will resist and fight our Ibani ljaw brother whom he gave to us as our project.”
She averred that Bonny people voted for President Tinubu in order for their brother, Fubara to become Governor, pointing out that by fighting the Governor now, the FCT Minister is trying to short-change Bonny people.
“In 2023, we voted for Tinubu because we wanted to protect the vote of Siminialayi Fubara, today he wants to short change us by fighting Fubara.”
“The visit of the FCT Minister is not a welcomed development. He should allow the Governor of Rivers State pilot the affairs of the State and stop his kangaroo visit. What good is he bringing to us than causing division? Everywhere he goes there is division.”
Wike is Welcome, Though We Can’t Tell Him What to Say – Former Commissioner
Taking a contrary view, a former Commissioner for Transport in the State, George Tolofari said the FCT Minister’s visit to Bonny is a welcome one.
He noted that it was apt for Wike to return to thank Bonny people for voting Siminalayi Fubara whom he presented to them last time he visited during the campaigns.
“Yes, it is a welcome development. The last time he was here was to campaign for the Governor. What he’s coming to do now is say “thank you”. I don’t see what is wrong with that.”
As per concerns over what happened in other LGAs Wike has visited, so far, and fears being expressed that he is coming to incite Bonny people against their brother, Siminalayi Fubara, dismissed such apprehensions, saying it is just “thank you” visit.
Well, I cannot speak for other LGAs, he called and said he’ll be coming to Bonny tomorrow for a “thank you” visit.”
“We cannot ask him not to come and we cannot tell him what to say or not say. He’s our party leader and leader of the Renewed Hope Family in Rivers State. We eagerly anticipate his coming and we’re preparing to receive him.”
Tension has continued to rise over the recent “Thank you” tour of the FCT Minister to various LGAs in the State, wherein he has been recorded to be casting aspersion on the leadership of President Bola Tinubu’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its support for Governor Fubara, who recently defected to the party.
Wike, who has been in altercation with most persons that appear to be sympathetic with Fubara, did not find the defection welcoming, and has continuously dismissed the notion of the Governor being the leader of the APC in the State, especially given his avowed opposition to Fubara’s rumoured second tenure bid.
In the previous tours, Wike had called out some APC big wigs, particularly, the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodinma, and even some of his colleagues in the Federal Executive Council such as the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, accusing them of hustling for the N600 billion Fubara met in the State coffers post the state of emergency.
In his response to the FCT Minister, the APC Scribe admonished him to resign from the APC led Federal Government, citing conflict between his role in the Federal Executive Council and his interference in the party’s internal affairs, stating that Wike’s actions are causing confusion within the party, urging him to do the honourable thing by resigning as Minister.
Wike warned sympathizers of Governor Fubara to steer clear of Rivers State or face severe consequences, accentuating concerns that he is likely to also use his visit to Bonny to consolidate on his vitriolic attacks on those opposed to his political ideology.