If I were Fubara, by Kola Amzat

The political squabble between Governor Simi Fubara of Rivers State and his well-known political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has lingered for unreasonable length of time.

And, it’s quite saddening that all the elders of the state, including the highly revered Dr. Peter Odili, seem helpless about the ugly development, as there is no clear indication of their intervention in the political impasse.

If they had, there is no result to that effect.

The concern of this writer remains the longsuffering Rivers people who have been at the receiving end of less-functional governance, since the ‘internal political war’ begun.   

Of course, there is no doubt that the governor has remained unsettled and unstable in the last one year, a development that has continually stalling him from engineering purposeful and resourceful governance in the state.  

Meanwhile, the governor is living under pretense and illusion that all is well; but, the discerning minds are conscious of the fact that Rivers is seriously enmeshed in political quagmire.  

But, let no one weep for Governor Fubara!  

He’s a victim of his own craftiness. He’s a captive of his own grand deceit.

He’s a key member of Wike political bloc. Through the platform, he rose to the office of Accountant General of the state under the former governor.

The same governor reportedly fenced so many worthy aspirants and single-handedly ensured Fubara’s majestic ascendance to the office of governor, succeeding the FCT Minister.

From the same political bloc, many senators have emerged over years. House of Reps members have ascended.  State’s House of Assembly members have been inaugurated. Many other faithful of the political bloc have been appointed as Commissioners, with some also emerging as Chairmen of Local Government Councils and, even, Special Advisers.

In a nascent democracy like ours, 95% of political office holders in the land only have one political bloc or the other to profoundly thank for their sudden emergence and meteoric rise.

This is obviously not an unusual development, as it’s the norm and tradition in the political sector across the country.

While Fubara was enjoying meteoric rise in Wike political bloc, even up to the office of governor, he never questioned the propriety and appropriateness of the mode of ascendance.

None of the beneficiaries did so either.     

Meanwhile, no one knew that Fubara harbored in his mind to immediately dismantle the bloc anytime he’s opportune to rise to the governor’s office.

This is what he’s been making spirited and unsuccessful efforts to achieve; to take over the bloc and render the original founder stranded. 

This is the centerpiece of this unending political impasse with his benefactor.  

Nigerians of discerning mind and good conscience could better imagine what could have happened to Nyesom Wike if he’d not been appointed as Minister!

By now, he would have been in political wilderness!

This is why the FCT Minister has fought tooth and nail to rescue the bloc from the carnivorous hands of Fubara, who have largely displayed ingratitude, contempt, indiscretion and disregard for his benefactor.

There is no other angle to look at the obvious political miscalculation and misbehavior on the path of Fubara than what I’ve chronicled above.  

And, the latest news coming from the state indicates the FCT Minister seems to have been vindicated, as he’s taken absolute charge and control of the political bloc, with virtually all known and respected political figures remaining or coming back to his camp.

Meanwhile, Governor Fubara and his motley crowd of faithful have been forced to move to APP, another political party to seek political redemption during the forthcoming Local Government Elections in the state.

It does also appear that majority of Ijaws, the Fubara kinsmen are with the FCT Minister.

Lending credence to this was recent political event in the state, when all key political figures of Ijaw extraction, including Minister, Senators, House of Reps and State’s Assembly members, Heads of NDDC, other Federal Government Agencies, Special Advisers and others, hosted Wike Nyesom and his entourage that comprised about 5 PDP governors to a tumultuous event, with all pledging their loyalty and allegiance.

There is no iota of doubt that, with the present political calculation in the state, Governor Fubara seems to have lost out. 

But, all hope is not lost. He could still be accommodated in the vibrant Wike’s political bloc.

This writer shouldn’t be misconstrued. I’m not advocating that the governor should surrender the authority and power of his office.

But, he needs to reach out to his benefactor for amicable settlement in the interest of his political future and more importantly, the longsuffering people of Rivers state.      

This remains the path of honor for him to tread.      

The governor recent declaration that he won’t lose his liver and kidney to retain his governor’s office, hasn’t considered the interest of generality of Rivers people.

As the incumbent governor of the state, he could even make greater sacrifice for the state not only to remain in peace, but, also to enjoy development and prosperity during his era.

And, this is why he must go extra mile to reconcile with his benefactor.            

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.