Following the confusion in River State on Monday, DIRISU YAKUBU of Punch writes that the relationship between the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, may be heading for the rock
His grip on the politics of Rivers State has never been in doubt. Nyesom Wike, two-term Governor of Rivers State and incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is perhaps, Nigeria’s most formidable politician at the moment who understands the mileage of political influence within and outside the corridors of powers. Wike does not tolerate 99.9 per cent loyalty from anyone who has either graduated or is still a student at his political school of thought. It’s either 100 per cent or nothing.
Wike, the lawyer-turned politician is seen as the biggest contributor to the loss of the Peoples Democratic Party 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Hatching a strategy that worked against the former Vice President not only in Rivers but also in Oyo, Benue, Abia, and Enugu states; President Bola Tinubu wasted no time in recognizing his role in his victory as he gifted him the juicy Federal Capital Territory portfolio in his executive cabinet.
Although now a full resident of Abuja, he still retains more than a passive interest in his state. His handpicked successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has lived in the shadow of the man whose ways he has studied in the past few years.
Wike, according to a school of thought, is largely responsible for the visible absence of Fubara in all PDP-related activities since his election in the March 18 governorship election.
But as the Holy Book says, there is a time for everything under the sun. A time to be born and a time to die. Taking poetic licence a notch higher, this writer dares add- a time to be loyal and a time to be rebellious.
“Tired of living under the shadow of an overbearing mentor, the former Accountant General of Rivers State now feels it is time to be his own man. It’s Fubara time!
On Monday, the Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie was removed from office in what has been interpreted as a bold move to rid the Assembly of Wike’s loyalists. This was after a fire gutted the Assembly complex on Sunday. He was subsequently elected the new Speaker of the State House of Assembly
Following Ehie’s election as Speaker, 23 out of the 26 lawmakers of the State Assembly quickly commenced impeachment proceedings against G Fubara who has challenged his detractors to tell the public what his offence is to warrant his removal from office.
“Let them come out and tell Rivers people the offense I have committed to warrant any impeachment. Let me assure the people of Rivers that I will continue to ensure that you get the dividends of democracy. At the appropriate time, I will address the press,” he said amid a fight for survival.
As annoying as the development in Rivers State seems, fallouts between Governors and their successors are hardly a novelty. Chimaroke Nnamani anointed Sullivan Chime to succeed him as Governor of Enugu State but the two soon fell apart when Chime elected to part company with Ebeano political dynasty of Nnamani.
In Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, now a Senator, literally made life hellish for the then Deputy Governor of the State, Pius Odubu for daring to eye the governorship seat. His stamp of authority paved the way for Godwin Obaseki who would then turn a political enemy Oshiomhole chased out of the APC. To date, Obaseki and Oshiomhole have yet to bury the hatchet.
Before now, Theodore Orji whom former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu catapulted to the governorship of the state while in prison, had cause to fall out with the latter. They are yet to reconcile and occasionally shade each other in media spaces.
In the preparations for the 2023 general elections, the feud between Rabiu Kwankwaso, who picked his then long-time political ally, Abdullahi Ganduje as his choice of successor for Kano State Governor, had degenerated into an abysmal level such that Ganduje stamped his feet on a poster bearing the image of his political benefactor. It was a symbol signalling the end of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, in the books of Ganduje, that was.
As the cycle of a past described as an inglorious one returns in the current political era, Ijaw leader, Pa Edwin Clark has warned the actors in Rivers State to be mindful of the dangers likely to follow should they go ahead to remove Fubara from office.
Addressing newsmen in his Abuja residence on Monday, the former Federal Commissioner for Information said, “I have been greatly disturbed by the reported developments in Rivers State in the last 24 hours. I have been reliably informed that there is a plot to unlawfully remove the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Siminalaye Fubara, who has spent only about five months in office.
“I understand the sad episode is being orchestrated by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, and that the intention is to remove the Governor, force his Deputy, Ngozi Odu to resign, and install the Speaker of the House of Assembly, another Ikwerre person as the Governor of the State.
“Let me warn strongly! We won’t allow that to happen!”
He continued, “President Bola Tinubu must call Nyesom Wike and the security agencies in Rivers State to order, to avert any untold crisis in the state.
Last night (Sunday night), the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly was burnt, in what apparently is part of the plot to destabilize the State.
“The Governor was tear-gassed and was even threatened with being shot at when he visited the Assembly Complex after the incident, to assess the level of damage.
“We are not in a barbaric state where people can do whatever they like; we are in a democracy and the tenets of constitutional democracy must be upheld by all.
“Rivers people have suffered enough political crises. The state should not be allowed to degenerate again into its dark past, and the Niger Delta region by extension. The consequences would be dire for the stability of the region and the National Economy.
“What has Governor Fubara done wrong? Refusing to be further “remote controlled”?
Mr Nyesom Wike was Governor for eight years, nobody hassled him. He governed the Rivers State like an Emperor. He did not show any iota of respect and regard to anyone, not even those who imposed him on Rivers people in 2015.
“President Tinubu must act fast and avert the unfolding crisis in Rivers State in the interest of his administration, the nation’s democracy, and the country at large.”
Meanwhile, pro-democracy campaigner and founder of Women Arise, Joe Okey-Odumakin has described the drama coming out of the drama as speculative, telling our correspondent that it may not be true that Wike has a hand in it.
He however added that if it turns out to be true, it would only follow a pattern that has gotten a life of its own in the nation’s political trajectory.
She said, “This is in the realm of speculation. I do not believe we should indulge In speculation as it does not edify us.
However, if it turns out to be true, it wouldn’t be a new thing. Our political history is replete with such discords. President Olusegun Obasanjo fell out with his kingmakers. His successors fell out with him. In the East and West, many fell out.
“Ex Governors aspire to the Lagos model. None has been successful so far. There is something about power that resents and resists control at some level. Even Governor Wike himself was indomitable at a point in time.”