Before Rivers state implodes

I have studiously remained non-partisan in the on-going political impasse in Rivers state all this while for two reasons; to allow efforts by well-meaning Rivers indigenes and other Nigerians a chance for peaceful resolution of the contentious issues, and also because having lived and interacted deeply with Rivers people of all descriptions during my 10 year sojourn in the state (and still do) I cannot afford the liberty of taking sides on the matter.

But events of the recent past have inexorably inched Rivers state closer to a point of no return that even though the best bet is still to remain non-partisan, we must however not shy away from objectively analysing the events as they have been unfolding for the benefit not only of the people of Rivers state but Nigerians at large.

The latest news is that the Rivers state House of Assembly has adjourned indefinitely without an indication of when they will resume again. The Supreme Court Judgement of February 28 which restored the status of the 27 House of Assembly members as bona fide members has given them the impetus to assert their rights and privileges as the constitutionally recognised legislative arm of the Rivers state government system. It is in the exercise of these rights that the House of Assembly decided to take actions which it felt constituted an infringement on its duties and responsibilities by Governor Fubara.

Among those decisions the Assembly decided to take in tandem with the Supreme Court Judgement was the dissolution of the cabinet of Governor Fubara, the cancellation of the Local Government elections conducted by him and the invalidation of the Rivers state budget which was approved by the 4 lawmakers who remained loyal to Governor Fubara.

Last week Governor Fubara in obedience to the Supreme Court judgement which ordered that the allocation to Rivers state from the Federation account be stopped on account of improper appropriation, Governor Fubara had attempted to make a fresh budget presentation to the reinstated House of Assembly but was rebuffed. The Assembly declared that having not formally invited him to make a budget presentation, it could not grant him that privilege. Frustrated, Governor Fubara promised to return after observing the protocols demanded by the Assembly.

But with the indefinite adjournment of proceedings by the Assembly, which many see as a ploy to deny the Governor the privilege to present the budget, for all practical purposes Rivers state will now be forced to operate without funds. And we can imagine that salaries and emoluments as well funding for projects and programmes of government will be greatly affected. If the matter is not resolved as soon as possible Rivers state government business will gradually grind to a halt putting the fate of the people of the state in great limbo.

Were the issue be limited to just between the Executive and Legislative arms of the River state government, it would have been reasonably safe to expect that with the robust intervention of prominent Rivers state indigenes and similar other Nigerians, there will soon be a resolution of the contentious issues. We all know that the issue is beyond Governor Fubara and Speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly the Rt. Hon Martins Amaewhule. And while there has been a whole lot of huffing and puffing between immediate past governor of the state Chief Nyesom Wike who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and Governor Fubara on alleged betrayal or failure to implement agreed issues, it is still more than that.

The main issue behind all the aggro going on in Rivers state is about the 2027 elections projections of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Nyesom Wike. In the 2023 general elections Wike smarting from his rejection at the presidential primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) offered his platform as Governor of Rivers state to defeat the presidential candidate of his party Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party Peter Obi in favour of the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This worked so well that the two decided to retain the arrangement for the 2027 elections by which time President Tinubu will seek re-election. And to sweeten the deal, Wike, a member of the opposition was appointed to the ‘’juicy’’ post of FCT Minister and granted unprecedented liberties to run the position as a de facto governor. And it was also intended to strengthen Wike’s ability to implement the 2027 agenda of President Tinubu’s re-election bid in Rivers state. Governor Fubara who was Wike’s former Accountant-General and political protégé chosen for his seeming political naivity was expected to be the main agent to implement this agenda.

But things got awry when Fubara balked at the demands of Wike which if granted would render the governor a mere figure head in Government House, Rivers state beholden hook, line and sinker to Wike at Abuja.

We are free to consider whether Fubara’s actions amounts to a betrayal of the covenant between him and his political Godfather and benefactor Wike as some people claim. Or whether Fubara is acting in the best interest of the people of Rivers state in defying Wike’s unreasonable demands as another school of thought believes.

What is certain is that by acts of omission and commission Governor Fubara has walked into a well laid political trap which opens him to punishment from his godfather Wike. And like Shylock in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, following the judgement of the Supreme Court, Wike is determined to have his pound of flesh on Fubara which may include impeachment. Like many others I believe that is what will eventually happen as Wike cannot trust Fubara to implement the 2027 agenda and so he must give way to another candidate who will be relied upon to do so going forward.

The problem is that as Wike’s desire to exact a pound of flesh on Fubara through impeachment will likely include the blood of Rivers people, tension has enveloped the state. In his single minded desire to roast Fubara Wike has given just about all the grandees of Rivers state the middle finger salute. Indeed he has not spared even the likes of former president Goodluck Jonathan, and former governors Chief Rufus Ada George and Peter Odili (who is considered the patriarch of all River state politicians) the bum rush for admonishing him and calling for restraint. As it is now the febrile lines of Rivers state politics prominently the Ijaw and non-Ijaw divide are rearing their heads. The Ijaw speaking parts of River state along with their kin in Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo who consider Fubara as one of theirs are issuing threats to disrupts vital national assets located in their domains.

Per the Rivers state political imbroglio we are at the point of crossing the Rubicon (Handshake don reach elbow as they say in Rivers state) and all must be done to pull back from the brink.

President Tinubu on whose behalf all this is going must come forward to play the statesman expected of him. He needs to stop seeing Rivers state merely as a piece of electoral real estate for which he needs to invest in political skulduggery to win. As we are inching towards the point of no return President Tinubu needs to engage genuinely with Rivers and selected Niger Delta stakeholders. He should jettison the zero sum game of narrowing his political ambitions on the state on one person who is just one out of the many prominent personalities in the state and region that can provide him whatever mileage he needs.

Rivers state does not deserve what she is being currently subjected to. Tinubu’s 2027 political ambitions should not be pursued at the expense of the blood of Rivers people. It is the state that gave us King Jaja of Opobo, Chief Harold Dappa Biriye, Okogbule Wonodi, Emmanuel Aguma, Obi Wali, Wenike Briggs, Graham Douglas, Rex Lawson, Victor Masi, Ken Saro Wiwa and countless other personalities who have impacted on the history of Nigeria. And most prominently the people of Rivers state provided the vital support that enabled the great amphibious landing operation during the Nigerian civil war by federal troops. Before we allow Rivers state go up in flames let us do well to reflect on that.

Gadu can be reached via [email protected] and 08035355706 (Texts only)