At the height of the political crisis in Rivers State occasioned by the sudden parting of ways between Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his benefactor and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, the Governor had trenchantly declared in one occasion, that he cannot offer his liver and kidney to his political godfather, Wike.
At another occasion while paying a condolence visit to the former Governor of the state, Sir Celestine Omehia during the passing of his mother, Fubara again declared that he cannot govern Rivers State on his knees.
The altercation between the two camps had continued to fester, defying interventions by some concerned individuals including President Bola Tinubu who had brokered a peace accord between the two camps which collapsed no sooner than it was made.
Fubara had decided to move on with the support of other political leaders and elders of the state who were uncomfortable as it were to sail in the same political boat with Wike.
The Governor even confessed that he felt like having been liberated from a cocoon since he braved it to unbundle himself from the alleged firm grip of Wike.
Days and months passed as all eyes were on the judiciary to untie some of the knotty issues in the political logjam. One after another, the governor kept losing judicial grounds as the courts were deciding all cases against him, rightly or wrongly.
The last straw which broke the camel’s back was the apex court decision which legitimized the position of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers thereby recognizing Martins Amaewhule as the speaker of the state House of Assembly.
The apex court also sustained the earlier decision of a Federal High Court which had ordered the suspension of FAAC allocation to Rivers State until the state appropriation bill was passed by a well constituted House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
At this juncture, it was obvious that Fubara had hit a cul-de-sac, but some analysts and supporters of the Governor still believed that the Governor could still do with an improved internally generated revenue in the absence of FAAC allocation to the state.
But the state House of Assembly was on their own side tightening the noose against the Governor by raising the spectre of impeachment should the Governor continue to expend unappropriated state funds.
Things were getting bad on a daily basis as the socio-economic atmosphere in the state was tottering and wombling.
The Governor who apparently had seen that he had come to the end of the road volunteered to implement all the components of the Supreme Court judgement and began to make overtures to the House of Assembly to enable him to re-present the budget before the House.
The House of Assembly, emboldened by the ruling of the apex court and strongly backed by the FCT minister, kept the Governor at arms length and even locked him out the day he came to re-present the budget.to the Assembly.
Days after, the assembly issued an impeachment notice to the Governor as the political crisis reached a crescendo.
Related Articles:
- Wike names real political enemies in Rivers, distances himself from rift with Governor Fubara
- I’m not desperate to return as governor, says Fubara
- Ibas assures Gov. Fubara’s kinsmen of tackling their challenges
Amidst the uncertain political environment, the Trans Niger Pipeline at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area conveying crude oil to Bonny export terminal was attacked by vandals. In the wake of the attack, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending the Governor, deputy and the legislature. The president had accused the Governor of not being able to caution some Niger Delta militants who had threatened to attack oil installations should the Governor be impeached.
In place of the Governor was appointed a military administrator, Vice Admiral Ibokete Ekwe Ibas to oversee the administration of the state for an initial period of six months.
Although the president’s action in Rivers attracted heavy criticism from far and near, the president has sustained the political situation in the state for two months so far.
There are feelers however that the president may lift the sanction on the Governor on May 29 Democracy Day especially following alleged moves by Fubara to mend fences with Wike and those the minister represents in the protracted political animosity.
Political observers in Rivers State are divided on what the ensuing rapprochement between Fubara and Wike would entail for the Governor on one hand and the state on the other hand.
Beyond normalcy that could be restored in the socio-political environment, has Fubara now decided that it is safe to offer his ‘kidneys and liver’ as a price to hold forte in the Brick House? It is assumed that the Governor was not under any influence when he made that grave statement in the open. In fact the statement came forth from his agonizing spirit based on what he might have been requested to do that he felt was not humanly possible for him to do.
But now from all indications, Fubara is ready for anything, whether it is okay for him as a person or for the health of the state is no longer an issue. From his avowed declaration “I cannot govern Rivers State on my knees”, Fubara is now even ready to govern the state prostrating on his stomach!
The Governor was also once quoted as saying that it was the scramble to corner the resources of the state that precipitated the political crisis. Now from the emerging scenario, Fubara will be ever ready to unzip the purse of the state for predators to pounce on just to remain as a teleguided Governor.
What is however clear is that the commonwealth of Rivers State is not for Fubara and Wike to sit at one corner and decide who gets what. This is why it is very imperative for Fubara to make open the terms of the reconciliation between him and the FCT minister known to Rivers people, so that the people will know how much the state is being sold over their collective condemn able amnesia for not being able to stand up to the FCT minister and put a halt to his provocative tendencies.
The FCT minister has consistently maintained that Fubara abandoned those who worked for his election and embraced those who made little or no imput. In fact the minister made it clear that that is the main issue in the fight against Fubara.
In his recent interview with the BBC pidgin, Wike came out clear to say that Fubara was only taking blows meant for others who according to the minister displaced the people who should be around the Governor benefitting from working for his election.
This is to confirm Governor Fubara ‘s earlier claim that all the fight is to corner the resources of the oil rich state by a few.
As it stands, the FCT minister has won resoundingly, while Fubara and the greater number of River people will continue to lick their wounds. No thanks to a socio-political system that builds strong individuals rather than strong institutions.
