Renowned journalist Dele Momodu has shed light on the ongoing feud between Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
According to Momodu, the crux of the political rivalry between the two figures revolves around control of the treasury of Rivers State.
In an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday night, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart elaborated on the matter. Since Governor Fubara assumed office on May 29, 2023, tensions have heightened between him and Wike, resulting in clashes that have permeated various levels of governance in the state.
The crisis has affected the state House of Assembly, local government chairmen, and certain state commissioners aligned with either faction. Despite efforts by President Bola Tinubu to mediate and broker a peace pact, the hostility persists, manifesting as a continuous cold war between the two camps.
Momodu elucidated further, stating, “They are fighting in Rivers because of politics only. They also need the money in Rivers. Tinubu has Wike in Rivers. They want him also to get hold of the state to not only give them votes but a structure of money, structure of having direct access to the treasury. Rivers State plays an important role in elections in Nigeria.”