Ahead of the October 5 local government election in Rivers State, followers of political developments in the state have predicted a paradigm shift in the socio- political equation in the state.
Their prediction is premised on what the altercation between the FCT minister, Chief Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his successor has forced on the state polity.
Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, Rivers State has remained a bastion of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), playing key roles both in providing funding for the running of the party and mustering votes for the party that has ensured that PDP always triumphs in all national and state elections in Rivers.
However, all that may change as the state goes into the local council elections on October 5, 2024.
The two leading political parties in the country,PDP and APC are not fielding candidates in the election as the FCT minister who has now emerged as the undisputed leader of the two parties in the state remains opposed to all actions and programs of Governor Fubara led administration.
Before now, Governor Fubara’s romance with other political platforms aside the PDP in the heat of the rivalry between him and Wike was discussed in hushed voices as both the Governor and his handlers were always quick to dismiss the speculations.
But in recent times, particularly since preparation for the local government election began to gain traction, the reality that the Governor may be plotting a Plan B for his political future became as obvious as a nine month old pregnancy.
Because of the alleged Fubara interest, a relatively unknown, obscure political party, the Action Peoples Party, APP has now become the cynosure of all eyes in the state, allegedly prompting two separate attacks on the state secretariat of the party located at Old GRA in the state capital.
The first was an explosive device suspected to be dynamite which yet to be identified arsonists detonated at the secretariat building causing extensive damage on the building. The second was a bullet that got a security guard at the secretariat injured and hospitalized.
What is more, as the posters of the candidates standing election in the various political parties started emerging, all Governor Fubara associates and even members of the incumbent local government caretaker committees contesting in the election appeared on APP platform.
What this means is that Governor Fubara may have decided to build his political structure outside of the PDP as the national leadership of the PDP keep vacillating over the leadership question in the party in Rivers State.
By the plot to plant his men at the grassroots through the local government election, Governor Fubara may have decided to start building his political structure for future elections from the grassroots where the votes are domiciled.
That was the same way Wike started before 2015 when he set up the Grassroots Development Initiative, (GDI) in all the 23 local government areas of the state and used it as a machinery to penetrate and canvas for support before the general election in 2015.
Before now, Governor Fubara has also cleverly set up the Simplified Movement in all the 23 local government areas of the state who have been going round preaching the message of the Governor especially on the backdrop of the festering relationship between the Governor and the FCT minister who has vowed to frustrate the Governor’s second term bid.
Should the local government elections go the way the Governor and his allies project, it would mark a significant turning point in the political landscape of the state as other political parties other than the PDP would be in charge of the 319 political wards in the state.
Read also: Again Delta Police arrest five suspected kidnappers, recovers two vehicles, N450,000 ransom money
And with Governor Fubara’s pro people governance posture which is evident in all his actions and utterances so far,before the next election in 2027, the Governor would have succeeded in penetrating all the nooks and crannies of the state to make the task of his re-election less herculean.
Taciturn, but very intentional, Governor Fubara’s project delivery and relationship with people is another plus for him. He has remained tolerant in the face of all the unrestrained insults and invectives poured on him by Wike’s foot soldiers, but at the same time taking projects to the localities of such antagonists, thus giving credence to his pro people mantra.
This is one quality that diametrically sets Fubara apart from Wke who does not brook opposition from any quarter.
Thus Governor Fubara has emerged as a rallying point for all the Wike’s former allies and associates whom the FCT minister through his uncouth mannerism fell out with.
It is not yet clear if Fubara would remain in PDP if the party’ s National Working Committee and National Executive Council decide to allow him assume the leadership of the party in the state.
If that happens, it is likely that his associates who would have taken positions at the grassroots as chairmen and councilors after the election on October 5 through other political parties would naturally return to the PDP at the opportune time.
If however the national leadership of the PDP remain buckled under Wike’ s strangle hold and allow the FCT minister to continue to call the shots in Rivers State, Governor Fubara could jolly well move on to the APP where it appears he has already found a comfortable abode.
What is however baffling analysts is the source of Wike’ confidence anytime he talks about future elections in Rivers State with a boast of how he would make a mince meat of Fubara to teach him a political lesson without any introspection to see and know that the glory had long departed from him as it did to Saul when God propped up David.
Last week at Eleme, the picture of what may soon become the lot of the FCT minister played out when youths got wind of a proposed meeting of the minister and his associates at Eleme Civic Center popularly known as Otoor Eleme and mobilized to the venue, shut the place down and declared the minister persona non grata in the local government area.
The meeting that was scheduled for the venue was later cancelled and taken to another community in Ogoni.
The consciousness of Wike’s destabilizing influence in the state affairs is growing rapidly among the people, particularly the youths whom he denied many opportunities as governor.
The minister may well be advised to vacate the stage before little children and some urchins smear him with mud. A new masquerade has arrived on the stage with a more attractive costume, he is dancing much to the admiration of the people and the applause is deafening. New paradigm shift beckons.
