Rivers Crisis: How Wike will lose the battle
Nyesom Wike himself had been a king, a kingmaker. What else would he want? A total domination of the Rivers State politics. That has always been the dream of past governors, hence, they put their stooges in power.
Simi Fubara, the incumbent Rivers State governor has given maximum respect to the FCT minister Wike. But that doesn’t seem to be enough. Wike would rather be in control with Fubara dancing to his tunes.
Wike must have failed to realize that it’s rare for the past to beat the present. In fact, he started the battle so early that his now enemy would be able to strategize and take on his benefactor.
The Federal Capital Territory minister nominated most of the members of the cabinet of Simi Fubara. He wanted to have a total control over the affairs of the state, hence, he ensured that his loyalists are at every nook and cranny of the government.
Now, the commissioners are already dropping their letter of resignation. They cited personal reasons for their decision to leave the government. But it won’t be that difficult for anyone to know that they were economical with the truth.
Perhaps Mr. Nyesom Wike has instructed them to leave so as to cause confusion and show their disapproval of the steps Simi Fubara is taking. The other side of the rancour is that the resignation of the commissioners would give Fubara an opportunity to appoint his own loyalists.
The governor must have been watchful and cautious of steps he takes. Of course, he knows that he surrounds himself with people whose loyalty is for another person. Their departure would pave the way for him to bring his own people on board.
And once the former governor, Wike, doesn’t have loyalists in Rivers State government anymore, his prominence, his influence and of course power is reduced. And that can enable Simi Fubara to empower his own foot soldiers.
From another point of view, the Rivers State House of Assembly is in mess. The governor has ordered demolition of the complex and he has presented the 2024 budget to the lawmakers who are loyal to him. The next step for him is to bring in as many lawmakers from the other side as possible.
Earlier, the 27 lawmakers said that they had defected to the All Progressives Congress, the same party Wike described as cancer. Later, they said they wouldn’t leave the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Meanwhile, their seats have been declared vacant.
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