In the heat of the political crisis in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara made two outstanding statements: ” I cannot offer them my liver and kidneys”. The second one was “I cannot govern Rivers State on my knees”
That was the governor speaking from the depth of his emotions, to portray how humanly impossible it was for him to accede to the demands or expectations of the group led by the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The suspended governor had also openly confessed that the root cause of the crisis is the inordinate quest to corner the commonwealth of the state by those fighting him.
He repeatedly alluded to the fact that his administration represents a breathe of fresh air and liberation for Rivers people, opposed to the somewhat stranglehold they were under in the immediate past administration of Nyesom Wike.
The governor often acknowledged that ultimate power rests with the people and always vouched to align with the people while navigating the crisis.
On the side of the people, they truly saw an agent of liberation, a new face of hope and one who could rewrite the socio- political trajectory of Rivers State.
So they embraced the governor with an unprecedented organic support which kept his traducers restless. The FCT minister apparently out of frustration was forced to be holding media chats almost on weekly basis, where he hauled tantrums at the governor and developments in the state. In all these, Fubara was clearly in the lead!
Though all government institutions and machineries were rallied against the governor, the icing as it were being the emergency rule and his suspension from office. However, the governor’s recent headlong capitulation was least expected by Rivers people, his supporters and analysts.
The governor’s anthem now has become “I will do everything for peace”.But, observers are wont to ask, peace at what cost and in whose ultimate interest?
“The peace mission to Aso Villa was actually akin to a mission to Golgotha as far as the governor was concerned. It was an enslavement dressed in the garb of peace. They didn’t go looking for truce in the political logjam.
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“Truce would mean both parties making concession to heal the state. But everything was skewed against Fubara”, a lecturer at the Rivers State University observed.
According to the analyst, Fubara was perceived as the rotten tooth that must be pulled out for the mouth to chew with pleasure.
“Look at the outcome of the peace meeting: the governor will not seek new term at the expiration of his first term, all 23 local government areas to be controlled by the FCT minister including Opobo, Fubara’s home local government area.
“The outstanding entitlements of Wike’s foot soldiers in the House of Assembly to be paid to guarantee a successful completion of Fubara’s remaining years in office without further threats of impeachment, among others,” he lamented.
Observers believe that President Tinubu merely dusted the document of the first failed peace mission to the Villa with minor amendments and threw them at Fubara, who as learnt was like a cockroach in the midst of fowls since he was said to be the lone person from his camp allowed into the meeting. And he swallowed everything, lock, stock and barrel.
So for Fubara, it is evident that he was no longer interested in having his vital organs – liver and kidneys which he had sworn never to offer to any body, not even to enable him remain in Brick House as governor!
He has capitulated to govern the state on his knees and even on his stomach, a posture he had denounced as an anathema for the dignified position of a governor.
The governor had prided himself as a sentinel jealousy guarding the common wealth of the state from rampaging predators. Now with his volte-face, he has abdicated that solemn responsibility. Wolves can now take over.
The governor’s recent remarks while meeting with members of the Simplified Movement is particularly striking and shocking to note.
Talking about the reconciliation with the FCT minister and seeing through the peace process, Fubara had remarked: “You cannot take away the fact that he (Wike) may be feeling hurt. He is a human being. So, I know how it feels.
“And if he says, because of what I have gone through, these are things I want. Of course, I will give it to him so we can have peace. We have to make tough sacrifices and concessions for the peace of the state,”
Interestingly, this is where observers sharply disagree with the governor as they insist that the FCT minister doesn’t own Rivers State. And so Fubara saying whatever Wike wants for what he had gone through, he would give it to him is out of sync, some analysts posited.
“The governor naively sounded as if Rivers State is now an enterprise owned by him and Wike, with the FCT minister having majority shares and hence entitled to any demand he makes from the enterprise That is the implication of Fubara’s assertion,” a political analyst told The Trumpet.
Nonetheless, it is not all knocks for the suspended governor as some analysts see wisdom in his approach to the dicey political developments.
A vocal social commentator, Livingstone Wechie said “we must understand that contemporary politics is changing and this is global. Reality now, no matter what anyone thinks is that Wike has dispensed himself as the strongman of Rivers politics in his time.
“On the side of Gov. Sim, he has demonstrated an unusual art of stooping to conquer and realign so the journey can continue. If you call Sim ‘mumu’, then you are the real ‘mumu’ because you don’t know the value of power. If you call him betrayal, then you are hypocritical.
“While this reported settlement unfolds, let’s strive to set an agenda for governance in our dear state. Nobody should feel left out; however, the younger generation must sit up and start plotting their spot and slots in the equation going forward.”
As political realignment continues to unfold ahead of 2027, all fingers are crossed and no one can rule out surprises. Even Fubara can pull a stunt and daze Wike and his band of followers.