“Fubara is a man of immense indiscretion who lacks the political know-how to navigate the troubled waters of Rivers politics.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu
If it were to be described in one word, the feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and Nyesom Wike can be correctly referred to as the balance of terror for very obvious reasons. Nyesom Wike has since gained a reputation for hard talk, with a strongman posturing. He has been consistent with this character of his and so far, he has not disappointed. Fubara, on the other hand, had carried on as a gentlemanly public servant with no air of arrogance until the feud with Wike.
Events are true tests of character. In a very short time, Fubara, like most Nigerian governors, turned himself into an emperor. We have seen this same thing repeat in many states where governors simply ignore state lawmakers or just issue orders to them, with utter disrespect and manifest abuse of both the legislature and the lawmakers.
Fubara was “made” governor for a reason known to both him and Wike
For argument, Fubara was “made” governor for a reason known to both him and Wike. He was Wike’s preferred choice of successor for a reason. People are not given political power merely for “public good” or for altruistic purposes. Even the so-called public good is a collection of private goods. In real political terms, it is not out of place to derive personal benefit from following an outlined process of delivering public good. To buttress, in the cause of pursuing public good, services are engaged, purchases are made and profits are also made. This does not constitute any impediments to the public good. Therefore, if Fubara is good to be governor, why is Wike not good for his own side of the bargain?
For a second, let the defenders of democracy tell us what they think about the destruction of Rivers State House of Assembly by Fubara. Imagine a governor’s audacity to go and destroy the Assembly complex; an institution of the government of Rivers State. He wanted justice, but he went and bulldozed the House of Assembly complex. For such a man, it is only someone like Wike who can match his speed of treachery.
We are talking of constitutionality and process, but for more than one year, Fubara denied elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly their constitutional duties. In each Nigerian State, the governor and deputy are elected just in the same way the House of Assembly members were elected. It is the same legitimacy that emanate from the people that they use to mount on the wings of state power and authority. Therefore, upon what basis did Governor Simi rely to cut off the Rivers State House of Assembly from the schemes of the Government of Rivers State for over a year?
To make his case even more complicated, it does appear that Fubara is not conversant with group politics to avoid confrontations. The first two lessons in group politics are diplomacy and influence. But Fubara preferred to use raw power, drawn from the model in the state of nature. Worst still, powers that he didn’t have.
Increasingly, people have compared the Anambra situation from 2003 to 2006 to this current Rivers impasse. However, in the Anambra State case, when Dr. Chris Ngige was governor, Dr. Ngige had the support of the House of Assembly. Members of the House at the time like Hon. Barr. Benchuks Nwosu, were influential and fully in support of the governor. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mike Belonwu and all the others were fully in support of the governor. Dr. Ngige didn’t earn that support by bullying them, and by destroying their office or showing them who was in charge. Ngige’s biggest break in the crisis was the support given to him by House of Assembly members.
But in Fubara’s case, he was fighting House members whom he was supposed to team up with, in his interests, and that of Rivers. This shows convincingly that Fubara is a man of immense indiscretion. He lacks the political know-how to navigate the troubled waters of Rivers politics.
Wike, as I had predicted earlier, is now a victim of power. I have at no time considered myself a fan of his. But again, in context, Fubara and Wike were fully aware and agreed to their alliance under defined terms and conditions. Wike is an interested party in the government of Rivers State under Fubara. I suppose Fubara knew Wike enough not to have made the multiple political errors he made that have earned him his current standing. If Fubara did not reject Wike’s offer to be governor, then, it would be unfair to Wike to leave Fubara alone when he has the means and wherewithal to fight his cause.
In the final analysis, I submit that Governor Simi Fubara is not a victim. If at all, he is only a victim of his own indiscretion and power-drunkenness.
As for the State of Emergency, there is no doubt that the president has many options. However, a State of Emergency is still an available political solution in this case. However, in as much as it should be a last resort, it is imperative to note that Rivers State occupies a strategic position in the fundamentals of Nigerian National Interests. Yet, it could also mean that the president has taken sides with Wike. Even more, the president cannot be neutral or pretend that Wike is not valuable to his political trajectory. When the president’s interests align with national interests, there is bound to be swift and definite response.
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