Sink Or Swim?

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is on the verge of a potential impeachment after reportedly falling out with his political godfather and predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The situation highlights Nigeria’s problematic political landscape where political office holders are expected to be more responsive to their benefactors rather than to the people who elected them.

Written by Yusuf Omotayo

Nov 4, 2023

Fubara Fights for Survival in Wicked Rivers. Photo illustration by Dami Mojid.

On Monday 30 October 2023, the leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie, and other lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalaye Fubara were suspended by the House as announced by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule. Shortly after, there were rumours that the state assembly had signed an impeachment notice to remove Governor Fubara from office. To add to the confusion, the governor was seen on video being teargassed and sprayed with water by security operatives as he rushed into the State Assembly to, apparently, stop his impeachment proceeding. A source claimed that the fire outbreak that occurred at the assembly just a day before was to prevent the lawmakers from gaining access to the premises to carry out their impeachment plan.

THE STORY

Fubara’s Monday travails, according to The Guardian, were caused by his political godfather and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. Wike is also currently the minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking at the Government House, Governor Fubara claimed that the mastermind of the impeachment attempt was trying to ‘divert attention’. He vowed to resist the impeachment attempt asking those behind it to ‘come out and tell Rivers people the offence that I have committed to warrant impeachment.’

A Niger Delta elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, pointed accusing fingers at Wike and asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Wike to order. Clark claimed that he got wind of Wike’s plot to ‘remove the governor, force his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu to resign, and install the Speaker of the House of Assembly, another Ikwerre person, as the governor of the state.’

President Tinubu ultimately intervened as confirmed by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who on 1 November thanked the president for his swift action. Both Wike and Fubara were also seen exchanging pleasantries at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Although both parties did not confirm the reason for the rift, there were reports that the governor in a bid to assert his political dominance sacked several Rivers State officials including: the state chief judge, Justice Simeon Amadi; his chief of staff, Hon. Chidi Amadi. Reportedly, Governor Fubara also suspended the chairmen of the 23 local government areas, a move the governor has denied. Despite this, Governor Fubara expressed optimism that the rift between him and Wike (his predecessor) would be resolved.  He said: ‘There is nothing wrong if a father and a son have a problem…whatever it is, we will definitely resolve the issue.’

THE GODFATHER

Fubara’s emergence as governor of Rivers State can best be described as Wike’s sole doing. Before Fubara was nominated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fubara was a former accountant-general with the Rivers State Government. Thus, he rode on the back of Wike’s political influence in the state to emerge as governor. During his thanksgiving service on the eve of Fubara’s inauguration on 28 May, Wike promised not to disturb the new government but hinted that he would not tolerate dissent. He said: ‘We will not disturb you from running your administration, but we will not allow you to make us cry.’

The rift between the minister and Fubara is no doubt related to the political power structure of the state and who controls it. Traditionally, a governor holds the political rein. However, in most cases, the governor has to contend with the political influence of his predecessor, a situation that usually causes tension and is usually resolved with either godfather getting the upper hand and retaining power or losing out completely to his political godchild. In response to the growing development in Rivers, Wike vowed not to be intimidated. He said:

If I want to do something, I will do it. Impeachment is not a military coup; impeachment is provided under the constitution. Nobody can take away our political structure, no one. You cannot work and people begin to bring enemies, those who fought you when you are struggling for the person to be in office, nobody does that. I am not a political ingrate, I am not — but don’t touch the political structure of Rivers State. I will not shut my eyes.

Subscribe to our free newsletter

You're in — welcome to The Republic

Complete your onboarding

Read

Connect

Apps

More

Read

Connect

Apps

More

Sink Or Swim?

THE STORY

THE GODFATHER

You’ve Reached Your Limit of Free Reading.

Ad-Free Reading Experience

Unlimited Access to Exclusive Archives

In-Depth Deep-dive Reporting

You’ve Reached Your Limit of Free Reading.

Ad-Free Reading Experience

Unlimited Access to Exclusive Archives

In-Depth Deep-dive Reporting

Comments

SHOP THE REPUBLIC

Related Stories

Kidnapped From the House of God

The Bombing That Changed Abuja Forever

What Endures in Borno Are the People

Surviving Boko Haram

Driving Through Life as a Fully Veiled Muslim Woman