Exactly a year now, Rivers State has been in the news because of the political crisis between the supporters of incumbent governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and his estranged godfather, Chief Nyesom Wike. No week since the rift between them was made public has residents not witnessed one drama or the other. It has been a battle of who should be in charge of the political structure in the state.
Last year, the governor survived an impeachment plot by a faction of the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike. The failed impeachment attempt led to the burning of the hallowed chamber by suspected political thugs. Since then, the battle line was drawn between both men.
While it seems like Wike, who is also the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is using the Abuja federal might, Fubara is gaining ground support back home. Majority of Rivers people who feel that in the current political upheaval, it is the former governor that is on the wrong side of history appears to be with Fubara.
Those sympathetic to Fubara, see him as the victim, and Wike the villain. Most of them are of the view that Wike will not take half as much as what he has been offering Fubara. In their opinion, the governor has not done anything to deserve the kind of ill treatment the FCT Minister and his group have been giving him.
The convener of the Concerned Rivers Lawyers Forum, Barr. Jonas Inayiemana, said in an interview that the majority of Rivers people are with Fubara and will stand with him to fight his adversaries who are bent on destroying his administration. He said those who are after him are also after the collective interests of the people.
"We are unequivocal in our support for our indefatigable governor, Amaopusenibo Siminalayi Joseph Fubara. It is for us the right thing to do. This is because if you truly examine the issues you will realize that the governor's only sin is his refusal to surrender the state's common patrimony to a group of insatiable elements who see the treasury of Rivers State as their own.
"Since Fubara came into office, he has faced severe persecution, embarrassment, intimidation, and all manner of attacks. We cannot continue to keep quiet and watch him go through all of these. So, it is our collective resolve as a group and as Rivers people to fight this oppression and tyranny by enemies of our state", Inayiemana said.
Despite attempts to use the judiciary and security agencies to box the governor into a corner and prevent him from running the state as he should, Fubara has continued to spring up surprises that has dealt a heavy blow to the Wike camp. His actions have confirmed that he is no longer the kindergarten politician that he was mistaken for last year.
The successful conduct of the local government council election has shown that Fubara may be having the upper hand in the political battle. Despite all odds, including the blunt refusal of security agencies, mainly the police to be part of the election, the poll was conducted, and winners emerged across the 23 LGAs.
This feat by Fubara using a strange party, the Action Peoples Party (APP) has completely changed the political dynamics of the state. It has dismantled the structure of Wike and has placed Fubara as the undisputed political leader of the state. Without a doubt, the outcome of the council election marks the beginning of a new Rivers State.
Fubara, who swore in the newly elected council chairmen less than 24 hours after their emergence said he had to do what he did to have constitutionally elected local government officals because the system was in a desperate situation, which required desperate measures.
“The truth remains desperate situations require desperate measures. We were confronted with a situation where the local governments of this state were headed to doom. And the truth about it is, because of the genuine love that we have for this state, we must salvage the local government councils. What we did, with the support of the Rivers people, was to salvage the local government councils", Fubara said.
Political observers believe that Wike may not give up anytime soon. Like a typical politician, he wants to remain relevant and will stop at nothing to ensure he bounces back into reckoning. Fubara may need to also watch him closely as the real political fight may have just begun.
