WHEN THINGS FALL APART BETWEEN GODFATHER, GODSON: WIKE AND FUBARA LOG HORNS.

With the recent confusion and the exercise of power and authority in River State on Monday, it is gathered that the relationship between the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, the former governor and now minister of the FCT NyesomWike, may be heading for the rock as they are said to be at each other’s neck.
Wike’s grip on the politics of Rivers State has never been in doubt with evidences of his political might in both the APC and PDP. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and two-term Governor of Rivers State is perhaps, said to be the most formidable politician at the moment in Nigeria, who understands the mileage of political influence within and outside the corridors of powers. Wike does not tolerate half loyalty from anyone, graduated or a student at his political school of thought. It’s either 100 percent loyalty or nothing.
Wike, a lawyer turned politician is seen as the biggest contributing factor to the loss of the Peoples Democratic Party 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He worked against the former Vice President not only in Rivers but also in Oyo, Benue, Abia, and Enugu states through the collaboration of his G5 Governors; which President Bola Tinubu recognized and cashed into it, which led to his victory and was rewarded with the juicy Federal Capital Territory portfolio in his cabinet.
Despite his official responsibility now domicile in Abuja, he Wike still retains more than a passive interest in his state affairs, which became clear why he supported APC in Presidential and PDP in Governorship, single handedly hpicking up his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Wike, according to a school of thought, is largely responsible for the visible absence of Fubara in all PDP-related activities since his election in the March 18 governorship election and expects the loyal to 100 percent all through the four years tenure.
There is a popular saying in life, there is time for everything under the sun. a time to born and a time to grow; time to be loyal and a time to be rebellious. Ones in a life time a baby thought is executed by the mother, until such baby is old enough to think for his/herself. But in the context, one will clearly say that the baby has grown faster to be able to have an independent though in just five (5) months of delivery. “Tired of living under the shadow of an overbearing mentor, the former Accountant General of Rivers State now feels it is time to be his own man. It’s Fubara time!
This confusion came to bare on Monday, when the Leader of the Rivers State Assembly, Edison Ehie was removed from office in what has been interpreted as a bold move to rid the Assembly of Wike’s loyalists. This event came up after fire gutted the Assembly complex on Sunday. He was subsequently elected the new Speaker of the State House of Assembly in move to impeach the governor. The house after electing the new speaker, moved to impeach the governor as have earlier insinuated; 23 out of the 26 lawmakers of the assembly quickly sat and commenced the action, which the Governor Fubara challenged his detractors (lawmakers) to come open and clean by telling the people Rivers State the offence(s) he committed that warrant his removal from office.
Following Ehie’s election as Speaker, 23 out of the 26 lawmakers of the State Assembly quickly commenced impeachment proceedings against G Fubara who has challenged his detractors to tell the public what his offence is to warrant his removal from office.
As annoying as the development in Rivers State seems, fallouts between Governors and their successors are hardly a novelty in Nigeria. A lot of such has happened in the pass in several Nigerian states. In the roll out of all these events, Elder Statesman and the Ijaw Leader Chief Edwin Clark have call on the President to call Nyesom Wike to order before things goes out of hands, warned the actors in Rivers State to be mindful of the dangers likely to follow should they go ahead to remove Fubara from office.
As words go back and forth in this Game of Throne, only time will tell the conclusion of the Rivers State matter. One will just pray that men who are supposed to weigh in for peace to reign and also enable the people of the state enjoy good governance and peace would act fast.