| Fubara & Wike. |
Some elder of Rivers State have declared their support for
their Governor, Siminalayi Fubara in his political supremacy battle with his
predecessor and FCT Emperor, Nyesom Wike.
The
elders, who are members of the Rivers State Elders Council, include High Chief
Anabs Sara-Igbe, Chief Rufus Ada-George, Chief Asukewe Iko-Awaji, High Chief
Sunnie Chukumele, and a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus.
Other
prominent members of the council include a former deputy governor, Dr Gabriel
Toby, a Second Republic lawmaker, Senator Bennett Birabi, a Niger Delta
activist, Mrs. Ann Kio-Briggs, and former Senator, Andrew Uchendu.
It
was earlier reported that Wike and his successor have been at loggerheads since
October 2023, when some lawmakers in the state began impeachment proceedings
against Governor Fubara.
Despite
President Tinubu’s intervention, the governor has been at war with 27 lawmakers
in the state who are loyal to the FCT minister and have defected to the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
Also,
five Commissioners loyal to Wike resigned from the Rivers State Executive
Council during the week.
Speaking
in separate interviews with Punch, the elders advised Fubara to stand firm
against Wike and deliver dividends of democracy to the Rivers people.
The
elders, who have been vocal about the state’s happenings, said they would not
allow the state to be plunged into an avoidable crisis.
Speaking
in an interview with the newspaper, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe claimed that
Fubara nearly resigned due to the constraints but was persuaded to stay by
critical stakeholders.
Chief
Sara-Igbe welcomed the resignations of the commissioners loyal to Wike, stating
that they added no value to the government.
He
reiterated the elders’ support for Fubara and urged the governor to act without
sentiment as he continued to deliver on his promises to the state.
Sara-Igbe
also urged Wike to allow Fubara to govern without interference, warning that
continued disturbance could lead to discontent among Rivers people.
Also
speaking, the Convener of the Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought,
High Chief Sunnie Chukumele, declared support for Governor Fubara and berated
the resigned commissioners.
He
said, “They (former commissioners) were not there to serve the state. They were
also not men of their convictions because when a man is a man of his
convictions, he should be able to deal with justiciable principles. So, they
were there just to fulfil some particular interest.”
Chukumele
also advised the governor to appoint competent Rivers people to fill the vacant
cabinet positions.
“And
I think the Governor may also need to create more ministries. For instance, we
need a Ministry of Home Affairs in Rivers State. There is so much that is
happening that requires security. There needs to be a commissioner who will
handle an office like that.
“There
are many people who are eminently qualified in Rivers State to fill those
positions. They will also be loyal to the governor and the Government of Rivers
State. That is important. Insubordination must not be tolerated. There has to
be zero tolerance for insubordination. Rivers people are looking for the best,”
he added.
Speaking
in the same vein, a member of the Rivers Elders’ Council, Chief Asukewe
Iko-Awaji, urged the governor to concentrate on governance and avoid political
distractions.
He
said, “The governor should concentrate. There is no politics now. Politics will
come again in 2027. But for now, anything that will cause him distraction
should be removed, and he should forge ahead.
“If
he fails to deliver the dividends of democracy to the Rivers people, the people
will take their decision in 2027. So, he should give more attention to the
development of the state. Nobody will take what is happening now as an excuse
for failure in his role as the state governor”.