According to reports, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has decided to handle the state’s ongoing political crisis alone, without seeking advice from influential political friends and elders who have supported him.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Breaking: Tinubu Meets With Leaders From Ogoni and Fubara Even with leaders who have publicly backed him against his political rival, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, the governor has been skipping consultations at Aso Rock, according to sources inside the Rivers State Government House. The man refused to answer the phone, even when the governor of a neighboring state called. A source in the Rivers State Government told Vanguard, “He does not get along well with the leadership of the ethnic nationalities in the area who are firmly supporting him in this battle.”
Wike’s actions are supposedly influenced behind the scenes by a more powerful person, which Fubara is reportedly aware of. Although he has declined to ask influential people like the Sultan of Sokoto, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo for help, others think this isolationist strategy could make him less of a political force.
Another source claimed that “Oga will not want to consult anybody,” and that the governor never paid a visit to Edwin Clarke, the late elder statesman who had vehemently supported Fubara’s government. Claims of Weak Strategy and Political Isolation
The governor, according to his detractors, has surrounded himself with politically insignificant people who are powerless to challenge Wike’s base. After Wike took on a ministerial job in 2023, these people—who had earlier supported former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—returned to Rivers State. Despite being characterized as giving, Fubara has come under fire for failing to use financial incentives to increase his political influence.
“Fubara is giving. Nevertheless, it appears that the state’s politics do not reflect this generosity. He’s lost a lot of ground,” a source said. The governor was also chastised by a Rivers State Elders Council member for being “too stingy with money.” He claims that despite our support for him, “not even a grain of rice from this government last Christmas.”
Peace Talks Attempts Denied A retired northern Army colonel allegedly sent emissaries to mediate a settlement in the conflict, but the governor turned them down, according to Vanguard. The officer’s suspected stake in Rivers State oil wells influenced the decision. Indeed, the general dispatched a few people to meet with the governor in Port Harcourt. They were unable to. Perhaps the governor didn’t want to accept them. The insider stated, “The effort is still ongoing.” According to the source, Fubara has presented the political conflict as an Ijaw-only conflict rather than a larger battle for Rivers State.
It seems that the governor turned the altercation into an Ijaw issue. This fight isn’t Ijaw. It is a battle for the Rivers people and all those who value morality and peace. This explains why the governor must assert his power and come out strong to demonstrate to everyone that he is in complete control of state governance,” he said. Divergent Opinions on Fubara’s Approach Fubara’s methodical approach is perceived as strategic by some, but as a sign of weakness by others.
According to Comrade Franklin Ntekim, Fubara’s tactfulness is a calculated maneuver. Prior to the Supreme Court’s contentious ruling, the governor had been winning the war. “He is a very calculating person, but he is not weak,” he remarked. Comrade Gregory Akpan disagreed, claiming that one of the reasons for Fubara’s defeats was his inability to vigorously contest the five merged charges against him at the Supreme Court. Did his men struggle to voice their concerns about potential injustice and offer strong arguments? “No,” Akpan said.
House of Assembly’s Double Ultimatum The legislature gave the governor two consecutive ultimatums after the Supreme Court’s decision, which restored Martins Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers as the rightful members of the Rivers State House of Assembly: 1. The deadline for submitting the 2025 budget was 48 hours, but it was not met. 2. Within 48 hours, dismiss all Commissioners and political appointees who have not received confirmation from the House.
Through Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the Secretary to the State Government, Governor Fubara denied ever receiving an official letter on the budget submission, describing the ultimatum as nothing more than social media chatter. The Assembly’s combative posture has stoked rumors that members are pursuing the governor’s impeachment process quickly. The Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), Ijaw National Congress (INC), and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) are among the regional organizations that continue to strongly support Governor Fubara despite political unrest.
Professor Benjamin Okaba, president of INC, said, “The Ijaw people will defend Governor Fubara with every pint of blood in their veins,” warning that any attempt to remove Fubara could have dire repercussions. The House’s ultimatum was also denounced by the IYC, which called it “an orchestrated effort to create chaos and impeach the governor.”
The Rivers Rescue Movement (RRM), a faction within the Ijaw community, has, however, distanced itself from INC and IYC, denouncing their actions as reckless and provocative. RRM criticized the rhetoric of leaders like Chief Sara Igbe, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, and Alhaji Asari Dokubo, claiming that their threats against the Nigerian state were “a grave threat to national security.” “No individual or organization has the monopoly of violence, so we are calling on Nigerian security agencies to arrest these individuals or any other group that threatens national peace,” RRM said.
Is Fubara Able to Avoid Impeachment? Even though the House has the necessary number to begin the impeachment process, if Justice Simeon Amadi, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, doesn’t assist, the procedure may encounter difficulties. A seven-member investigative panel will have to be established by Justice Amadi, who is renowned for his morally upright position, to examine the impeachment claims. He might, however, defy pressure to help remove Fubara, according to many.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
