By Abiola Olawale
The political situation in Rivers State continues to be filled with drama and surprising theatrical developments similar to those Samuel Beckett’s theatre of the Absurd dramatic Scenes.
In what seemed like a comedy show on Sunday, some individuals who spoke at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, were heard on video, demanding that Governor Siminilayi Fubara of the state should obey all the instructions given to him by his predecessor, the incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
During the event, the group which looked like hired crowd were heard chanting solidarity songs in support of Wike, as they chided Fubara for being adamant about bowing to the wishes of his predecessor.
They were heard singing variously thus: “Obey! Fubara must obey Wike, Obey!”
Speaking to the New Diplomat on the development, an elder of Rivers State who didn’t want his name in the media described the gathering of the group as shameful. He wondered why a ‘rented crowd’ told Fubara, who is the current leader of Rivers State to obey a Minister in Abuja.
The elder statesman said the event was purportedly sponsored by a loyalist to Wike, saying no sane person would leave his own business to tell their Governor to obey a former governor.
The New Diplomat reports that Rivers State has been in the news for over six months over the cold war between Fubara and Wike. While the reasons for the acrimony between the duo remain top secret, some insider sources had said that Wike and Fubara had been purportedly battling for control of the oil-rich state’s resources and political machinery.
Sources have said that Fubara is allegedly not listening to Wike, who was vital in his victory at the 2023 governorship election.
The crisis has since festered, as about 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly including the Speaker, Rt. Hon Martins Amaewhule dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and issued threats to impeach Fubara. To analysts, these lawmakers have consequently lost their seats for dumping the PDP when there was no internal division to warrant such action. This appears to have strengthened the pro-Fubara loyalists in the State.
