The political turmoil in Rivers state is intensifying as Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, engage in a high-stake stand-off. And in the latest twist to the political imbroglio, who will blink first? TOPE SUNDAY asks.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Now, the political atmosphere in Rivers state is tense as Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was inaugurated in May 2023, and his ex-boss, Nyesom Wike, are in a show of strength over what some political pundits call the supremacy battle for the soul of the state.
Though the duo are still members of the leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike, the incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is believed in some quarters to be fraternising with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by the virtue of his appointment.
To some, the rift in the state is an attempt by Governor Fubara to establish his own political identity and governance style, and that some PDP stalwarts might be backing the governor to weaken Wike ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The resignation saga
As of the time of filing in this report, the embattled governor had issued a threat to investigate the tenure of his predecessor under whom he was the accountant-general. Also, Blueprint Weekend can report that a total of nine Commissioners loyal to Wike had resigned from Governor Fubara’s cabinet.
They are the Commissioner for Education, Prince Chinedu Mmom; Commissioner for Housing, Gift Worlu; Commissioner for Social Welfare, Inime Aguma; Commissioner for Environment, Austen Ben-Chioma; Commissioner for Transport, Jacobson Nbina; Isaac Kamalu resigned after he was changed as the commissioner of finance to the Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment; and Zacchaeus Adangor resigned as after he was changed as the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General to the Commissioner for Special Duties (Governor’s Office).
Also, the former Commissioner for Works, Dax George-Kelly resigned to take up appointment as the director-general of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), while Emeka Woke resigned as Commissioner for Special Projects to take up appointment as the CEO of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
The remaining commissioners are loyal to the governor while new commissioners are expected to be appointed in the coming days to replace the commissioners who resigned.
House of Assembly
Also, this reporter can confirm that the House of Assembly is factionalised as pro-Wike and pro-Fubara assemblies. The pro-Wike faction, led by Hon. Martins Amaewhule, is in the majority with no fewer than 25 lawmakers, while the pro-Fubara faction led by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo is in the minority with four members.
‘Issues trivialised’
Reacting to the development, a public affairs analyst, Saheed Abdullahi, said the development is being trivialised and wondered why some Nigerians are backing Fubara for fighting his former boss, Wike.
Abdullahi, in an article entitled “Wike Vs Fubara: Any lesson for political class,” said, “I have meticulously studied developments in Rivers state. Unfortunately, many commenters are apportioning blame to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. Though I am not holding a brief for the minister and I don’t even have any affiliation with him, I hold the view that the truth be laid bare.
“Some Nigerians just like to trivialise the lingering political imbroglio between Fubara and Wike. I am pretty sure that all those castigating Wike would not accept Fubara’s recalcitrance if they were in Wike’s shoes. They forget the fact we are all human beings. Why didn’t Fubara reject the offer of previous appointments including the governorship where he is currently sitting as primus inter pares?”
Continuing, he said, “Then ask Governor Fubara, was he submissive to former Governor Wike in previous political positions held under him? I knew how he was almost licking the shoes of former Governor Wike before the 2023 governorship elections. Hypocrisy is at its peak, right?
“The stories of how Abdullahi Umar Ganduje betrayed Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso in Kano, Willie Obiano betrayed Peter Obi in Anambra, Godwin Obaseki betrayed Adams Oshiomole in Edo, Emmanuel Udom betrayed Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom still fresh in our memories. Can you also accept that?
“Cases similar to that of Rivers state now are that of Governor Hyacinth Alia versus his godfather, the incumbent Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who was also a governor, in Benue and the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai versus the current Governor Uba Sanni. It is nothing, but a stark betrayal. Can you people, who have taken sides against Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, accept that? Some of you are even worse than Wike.
“Although the FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has his excesses of vituperation, and fights to finish ailments, he does not look back while fighting. He is highly problematic with that. Those elders backing Governor Fubara now knew former Governor Wike extremely to have waited till he left office. They dare not go beyond their boundaries. Governor Fubara is losing the battle daily as the State Assembly, Local Government Chairmen and a huge number of his cabinet members are not with him.
“What is happening in Rivers state is the pure absence of government as Executive and Legislative Arms have been paralysed while Judiciary in that state is hospitalised. Unarguably, the 2024 budget presentation of Governor Fubara did not pass through normal legal procedural processes before implementation.
“What right does Governor Fubara have to bulldoze the structure of an independent arm of Government like the Legislature? When elephants fight, grasses suffer. The people of Rivers State are now at the receiving end. Do they deserve this? The answer is NO! Something must be done. If the declaration of state of emergency will put an end to these shenanigans in Rivers state, so be it!’’
‘Judiciary as saving grace’
Also, a political analyst and lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Mr. Femi Fayomi, who said the crisis rocking the state is expected owing to the high-wire politics in last year’s general elections, said the pronouncement on the status of the pro-Wike lawmakers who defected to APC last year would settle the matter.
He said: “The political crisis rocking Rivers State is not unexpected given the high-wire politics that occurred in last year’s general elections. It is expected because the history of the state is repeated with cases of infighting between political godfather and godson, mentors and mentee, especially since the return to civil rule in 1999.
“However, it remains a difficult if not impossible task to carry out since the Chief Judge of Rivers state may likely be influenced by the sitting governor paraphernalia of office. The purported peace deal signed by the governor at the instance of the intervention of Mr. President in December last year appeared to have weakened Governor Fubura initially, but with the support from his Ijaw people who are the dominant ethnic nationals in the Niger Delta, the FCT minister may find it difficult to assert his influence in Rivers state and on the governor as well.
“No doubt, the decision of the governor to probe Wike’s government where he served as the accountant-general brings about a new twist in the political drama. The emergence of a new speaker and open declaration of apology by Wike to Rivers people for supporting the election of Fubura have made nonsense of the recommendation of the political solution strategy initiated by President Tinubu.
“To avert political conflict that will make the state ungovernable, I call on the judiciary to assert her independence and make just and fair pronouncement on the status of the defected legislators and Mr. President must also maintain neutrality in the matter. The president’s tactical support for Mr. Wike is responsible for the continuation of the crisis.
“I believe the PDP has been smart in not expelling Wike and his supporters over open anti-party engagements in the build-up to 2023 presidential elections and even after the inauguration of Tinubu administration. Otherwise, the defectors would have had a legitimate reason for defecting.”