The embattled governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is poised to emerge victorious in the political war between him and Nyesom Wike, which has engulfed the state since he became the number one citizen two years ago, because the huge sympathetic and supportive voices being attracted to the camp of the governor on daily basis both from within and outside the state, drown the chants of violence emanating from the Wike camp
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
Many political analysts have argued that the height of political rascality in the ongoing power tussle in Rivers State between the incumbent governor Siminalayi Fubara and his immediate predecessor Nyesom Wike who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is the locking out of the governor from entrance into the premises of the State’s House of Assembly, as well as the fuming and threats of impeachment that are coming from Wike.
However, as the battles for the soul of the state rage between the two estranged gladiators, and also getting messier, the sitting governor Fubara and his camp who are considered as the underdog in the festering saga continues to garner heartfelt sympathies and support across the country. Indeed, the Rivers State political crisis is no longer news at the moment, rather what is obviously in contention in the Fubara-Wike feud, according to Tentacle’s checks, is which camp will emerge victorious in the end as Wike’s camp have begun to call for Fubara’s impeachment.
Last week, Wike slammed Fubara for writing a “useless” letter to the Martins Amaewhule-led State Assembly, inviting them for a meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt and also informing them of his intention to re-present the state’s budget for 2025.
The political crisis in Rivers State further took a dangerous turn, las week as well when Wike downplayed reported threats by some Ijaw-linked militant groups to blow up crude oil pipelines and hold the nation to ransom, should Governor Siminalayi Fubara be impeached by the 27 members of the State Assembly loyal to him.
Wike had insisted that heaven would not fall if Fubara was impeached. Wike’s threats of impeachment came at a time when the Amaewhule-led Assembly shunned a reconciliation meeting called by the governor on Monday, March 10, 2025 and later barred him from entering the Assembly complex to present the 2025 budget, alleging improper communication.
But in a quick reaction, governor Fubara said he was ready to re-present the budget, despite being locked out, insisting that he notified the House through Speaker Amaewhule.
Minister Wike issued his damning threats when he granted a live interview with some television reporters, in Abuja last week. He described the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) as the worst organization for anyone to rely on, he also took a swipe at the Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Muhammed, whom he accused of using him to settle scores with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
the visibly angry Wike retorted the every ethnic group in the Niger Delta had the capacity to do whatever others are doing, warning that no one should arrogate to himself the monopoly of violence.
Wike said: “Who has called for his impeachment? Who? If he has committed an infraction to be impeached, what is wrong? Is impeachment a criminal offence? Is it not provided for in the constitution? Am I a member of the Assembly?
“The point I am making is, if he has committed an infraction on the constitution and the Assembly deems it fit to say he should be impeached, then fine. Is he the first person that would be threatened with impeachment? Don’t you know what to do? What’s all this hullabaloo about impeachment?
“I have heard people say if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order. Rubbish. Tell me who are the militants? Who was born a militant? Tell me. Who is a militant? Who cannot blow the pipelines? Why do you arrogate this power to a certain group of people? Are Ijaw people the only ones who can blow up pipelines? What nonsense is that? Who told you that Ogoni, Ikwerre and others cannot blow up pipelines? Why do you arrogate powers to people?
‘’Who is the one doing the contract of the pipeline surveillance? Is he not an Ijaw son? Is it not Tompolo? Tantita? They gave you the contract. You are Ijaw and somebody will say Ijaw people will go and blow pipelines and somebody will listen to that?
‘’How dare you threaten a country? Which threat? It does not exist. These are political thugs planted by some people in government. We know ourselves. You make an appointment as MD of NDDC, they threaten that they will blow pipelines. You make an appointment, they threaten again to blow pipelines.
“I have told people, when the law speaks, all these ‘Asawana’ (an Ijaw spiritual chant) will die. Let me tell you, Ijaw does not constitute the majority of the Niger-Delta. People must speak the truth. Heavens will not fall. You only die once, not two times.
“What nonsense, everyday you wake up, Ijaw will do this, Ijaw will do that! In Akwa Ibom, Ijaw cannot be governor. In Delta, Ijaw is a minority. With all due respect to our late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, he is from Delta.
“He never produced an Ijaw man to be governor of Delta. The only place Ijaw can be governor solely, is in Bayelsa, not in Edo, not in Rivers. It was out of our own benevolence, the idea of live and let’s live, that I said, look, we are working as a team. We are members of the same political family. Let us allow this to go to this area.
“If it is by strength, they cannot beat the Ogonis, they cannot beat the Ekpeyes, and they cannot beat the Ikwerres.
“When people do something to bring people together, you appreciate it. In fact, when I brought this governor, they said’ no,’ that he is not a real Ijaw man.
‘’If you are talking about Ijaw, the ticket should go to the Kalabaris, how can you say if they want to give governorship to the Ijaw, that it should be the Opobos? And you closed your eyes and did it. All those who fought me are the ones now parading themselves and deceiving him.”
Wike also described Fubara as an insincere politician, arguing that Fubara, having been at loggerheads with the lawmakers for a long time, should have known what to do, rather than sending a subordinate to write them.
Wike, further wondered how three lawmakers would sit and make laws for a state. He said: ‘’We are talking about the Supreme Court. Do we need to go to the Supreme Court? In your own conscience, are you telling me three members will constitute a parliament?”
Asked to explain what happened during his tenure when, at a point he worked with five lawmakers, the minister said: “That is not correct. You see, people should stop all these. Even when they say so, why not do your research? Remember, the assembly was inaugurated, remember there was a tribunal.
‘’The Court of Appeal nullified some seats. Before that time, the budget had been done. And then we did a rerun and the assembly was filled. If anybody tells you that I, as governor, presented a budget to a number that is not what is required by the constitution, it is a blatant lie. Prove it. Prove with empirical evidence.
“You have had a frosty relationship with an arm of government. If you are a good politician, will you go and write letters?
“If you are a good politician, you have had a frosty relationship with me for many years. I have never sat down with you, I have never spoken with you, you seized my salary. They could not pay their children’s school fees. Now you went to the Court of Appeal. It didn’t even occur to you, even though I won at the Court of Appeal, I still want peace.
“The matter went to the Supreme Court. And the Supreme Court now gave it to me. Then the next thing you do is to write a letter and who signed the letter? A bloody SSG (Secretary to the State Government) would sign a letter to the head of an arm of government? What an insult?
‘’You are telling me here that the SGF will sign a letter to the President of the Senate or to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and say Mr. President is coming to do so and so. Is that how it is done?
“First, assuming you want to go that route, you call the leadership and say, listen, this is where we are. I want to present this budget tomorrow. They will say okay, let’s look at it. You are not the one to tell them you are coming to present a budget tomorrow. Who does that? ‘’You want to play to the gallery. I have been in government, I don’t just write letters to Mr. Speaker to say I am coming to present a budget tomorrow morning. Are they your children? Do you know their engagements?
‘’If you are sincere, you will call first and say ‘Mr. Speaker, where are you? Are you home? Can we talk? Can you come? Or can I come?’ And they agree on something and then Mr. Speaker will go back and call his colleagues and say, listen, ‘Mr. Governor called me and I met with him and he wants to present the budget on so, so date’.
‘’Then, they will look at their schedule and say okay, let us shift it or let us accommodate him on that day. That is how it is done.
“All these letters you (Fubara) are writing are useless. You are playing to the gallery. Everybody knows you are not sincere. A true politician will not behave that way. Let me tell you, Mr. President was to present a budget to the National Assembly and the Assembly people were not happy for one thing or the other.
‘’We met at Exco and they said they had shifted it. Why? He had to meet with the leadership to agree on some grey areas. He didn’t need to write a letter. A man who does not want peace is the man who is playing to the gallery, saying I have written a letter, written letter to your son?
“The governor is not sincere. I never knew he is this kind of character. The Supreme Court said there is no way three members can sit and legislate for a state. You took your commissioners, Attorney-General for these three members to screen.
‘’The court said it is not possible and the Assembly people said submit the list of members of your cabinet, we are willing to screen them. Instead of us to applaud them, you are saying why should they give a time limit? When the Assembly asked him to submit a list, he now told his commissioners to go to court, after the Supreme Court had given judgment on this matter.”
Fubara had gone to the Assembly in the early hours of Wednesday, March 12, 2025 to implement one of the key decisions contained in the Certified True Copy (CTC), of the Supreme Court judgment, which is the re-presentation of the 2025 budget to a properly constituted state Assembly.
But on reaching to entrance of the Assembly, some security staff of the Assembly debarred him from gaining entrance into the premises but said there was no formal communication that the governor was coming to the Assembly on that day.
One of the security said, “I am not disposed to such information that the governor was billed in the Assembly today. If there is such information, the speaker will inform us. For now, we are not aware of the governor’s visit to the Assembly”.
In a quick reaction to the treatment meted out to Fubara at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, said he was not surprised that the 27 lawmakers acted in that “shameful way”, stressing that they were neither interested in peace nor the overall interest of Rivers people. According to him, the lawmakers are there to serve the interest of their master, Wike.
The INC president alleged that the lawmakers were loyal to Wike because the FCT Minister “bought the forms that took them to the Assembly. They were handpicked by him. Wike said so publicly. That is why I am not surprised by the way they act.”
Professor Okaba said further, “Some people said Sim is very weak. He promised Mr. President that he would implement the judgment, why then should the lawmakers block him from entering the Assembly complex?
“These same lawmakers gave the governor 48 hours and then 72 hours ultimatums to present the budget. They issued another ultimatum to the governor to sack the 19 commissioners. If he sacks the commissioners, including commissioner for finance, who will then prepare the budget?
“By their actions, they have shown the world how wicked they are. If they go ahead and impeach Sim Fubara maliciously, forcibly or recklessly, we will resist it and the consequences of such action will be too heavy for the whole country to bear. This is no threat.
“Wike cannot provoke us into ethnic war. The Ikwerre people had apologized to the Ijaw people over the attitude of Wike against Sim.”
Earlier on, the Rivers State House of Assembly had given Fubara 48 hours to submit a new list of commissioner nominees. In a letter dated March 5, 2025 the Assembly had accused the governor of unlawfully swearing in 19 commissioners without legislative screening and confirmation, insisting that the action violated the Constitution.
The lawmakers also stated that the governor made several other appointments to positions requiring the Assembly’s approval before the appointees could take office.
In retrospect, on Friday, March 7, 2025, the Supreme Court had ordered the Amaewhule-led assembly faction and other elected lawmakers to resume sitting. The apex court also upheld a Federal High Court ruling that prevents the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing statutory allocations to Rivers State. Furthermore, the court nullified the local government election that took place in Rivers State on October 5, 2024.
The contentious judgement of the Supreme Court emboldened the Rivers State House of Assembly to issue Governor Fubara a 48 hours deadline to re-present the 2025 budget to the lawmakers for consideration.
They made this known during plenary in Port Harcourt with the motion moved by the Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol.
The lawmaker’s resolution stated thus, “That pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit no.: SC/CV/1174/2024 for the stoppage of Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and halting of spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill, you are requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended. That the House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours”.
“The provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No.: SC/CV/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGAs or any other persons other than democratically elected officials”.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly made no mention of the 2024 budget during the plenary. Fubara had on January 2nd, signed a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 Budget into law after presenting it to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers.
Following the Supreme Court judgement, Fubara also called for fresh council polls in the state, promising to obey the judgement of the apex court.
“Furthermore, given the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission,” the governor said in a state broadcast, adding the “outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over the levers of power to the Heads of Local Government Administration by Monday, 3rd March 2025”.
As Wike’s latest threats of impeachment and violence rend the air in Rivers State, Fubara’s sympathizers have been swelling, some of them dishing out counter threats, while many others that condemned the stance of President Bola Tinubu whom they alleged is in cahoots with the FCT Minister, insisted that no matter how intense the political war got to, it would be impossible for the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Fubara.
Jake Epele, founder of TAF Africa, stated that he was in sympathy with Fubara because he has been humiliated beyond what any sitting governor in the country can accommodate. He advised the governor to continue to play cool as he has been doing because victory awaits him at the end of the saga.
Epele said categorically that nobody can impeach Fubara, no matter how deep Wike’s pockets are and his connections. He noted further that given the fact that the Chief Judge of the state has embarked on a long vacation, any impeachment moves by the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike cannot fly.
Epele: “Fubara has been humiliated. I don’t think any governor in Nigeria will allow himself to go through what Fubara is going through. I advise him to obey the Supreme Court order because no matter what you’ve been through, you will win at the end of the day”.
Epele who spoke on the Arise Television Morning Show on Thursday, March 13, 2025, also added, “Fubara will not be impeached, take that to the bank. Wike may have deep-pocket power and all the connections, but he doesn’t have the constitutional power. The people of Rivers State are behind Fubara, they’re resilient and peaceful.
“Impeachment can’t be easy because the CJ is on Fubara side. Fubara is peaceful and humble, he must continue to be peaceful and humble until God gives him victory”.
On her part, Donu Kogbara, another indigene of Rivers State, stressed that Wike has been playing with fire in his efforts to destabilize the state. Kogbara, a newspaper columnist, insisted that Wike was unwise in his attacks against an Ijaw governor. She accused President Tinubu of gaslighting what she referred to as “the nonsense”.
She alleged that the Rivers State citizens, until now, do not believe that Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election in the state, hence according to her, both Tinubu and Wike had already lost the battle for Rivers State in the court of public opinion.
“I think Wike is playing with fire. His attacks on the Ijaw nation is unwise. Fubara is an Ijaw, and his people are not happy.
“It’s clear Tinubu is on Wike side, he is gaslighting the nonsense. It’s only the president that can tell Wike to stop the nonsense.
“Most Rivers people do not believe that Tinubu won Rivers State in 2023. Wike and Tinubu have lost the battle of public opinion. Wike and Tinubu should thread softly. Tinubu said if Fubara want peace he should follow the rule of law and listen to dubious judicial pronouncements, I don’t think Fubara can fulfill those conditions”, Kogbara submitted.
In support of Fubara in the Rivers crisis is the Ijaw Traditional Group which claim that former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife were to blame for imposing Nyesom Wike on Rivers people.
The group said, “This situation was avoidable. But for Jonathan and his wife, who imposed this thoughtless talkative on us, Rivers State wouldn’t be suffering this pain today.
“If they impeach Fubara, we will take everything in good faith. Ijaw people don’t believe in violence. But we are watching closely as Wike continues to harass and intimidate the governor of Rivers State.
“There is a saying that two mad people never behave madly at the same time. Some of those who have the capacity to talk will avoid responding like Wike for now. But we are not sleeping, and we are not cowards.”
The Ijaw group warned that Rivers State would boil even before the impeachment of the governor starts, insisting that Fubara may not be the one to fight, but the group will fight for him.
During a media conference in Port Harcourt last week, the group’s leader, Esezi Obilor Rukani, urged the lawmakers to reconsider their actions.
He said the 27 lawmakers pushing for impeachment should remember that the people elected both them and the governor.
Rukani stated that any impeachment attempt would be resisted by the people.
He also warned that lawmakers who continue with the move might face recalls by their constituents.
His warning came after the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, called for Fubara’s resignation or impeachment.
Another member of the pro-Fubara group, Joshua Fubara, has reaffirmed his support for the governor while insisting that the governor will complete his first term without hindrance.
Speaking in an interview on Echo 360 TV, Fubara addressed the deepening rift between the state government and opposing political factions, calling for peace while defending the governor against impeachment threats. Governor Fubara has been a good leader and has done nothing wrong to warrant impeachment or resignation. Whether anybody likes it or not, the man will complete his first term in good health”.
A dreaded Niger Delta militant group, the ‘Niger Delta Rescue Movement’ (NDRM), had also issued a warning to the Federal Government that it would not hesitate to return to destroy the oil pipelines in the region if the political tension in Rivers State was not resolved.
The dreaded militant group also urged non-indigenes resident in the state to leave as they could not guarantee their safety in the face of the ongoing political crisis especially when the state Assembly commences impeachment proceeding against Fubara.
The militants said this in a trending video on a social media platform.
They said, “We the Niger Delta Rescue Movement wish to express our deep concern regarding the recent development in Rivers State threatening the smooth governance of our beloved state under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara,” a supposed leader of the group declared in a letter he read.
“It has come to our attention that certain individuals proclaim as lawmakers have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state governor to present the 2025 state budget. This blatant attempt to destabilise the state is not only alarming but also a clear attempt to coordinate efforts to incite hell potentially leading to a state of emergency or even an impeachment.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and stop the action of Nyesom Wike and his associate whose intent is to drag Rivers State to avoidable crisis. The people of Rivers State like stability, progress and a conducive environment for governance.
“Furthermore, we must make it abundantly clear that the youths of Rivers State will not sit idly while our state is dragged into tumult. If the federal allocation due to Rivers State cannot be released promptly, we will have no choice but to take decisive action including hitting oil production.
“We can’t generate money into the federation account and not have our share. Our workers deserve their salaries, our government needs the necessary resources to carry out essential development projects”.
They further urged the non-indigenes to leave the state for their safety, stating: “We urge all non-indigenes in Rivers State to consider their safety and leave the state promptly as the situation may escalate. We cherish the safety of all residents and urge for a peaceful resolution to this crisis. Enough is enough. We stand united for the rest and future of Rivers State. We demand respect from our leaders and focus on the development of our region.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas, CDC, Joseph Ambakaderimo, said the political crisis brewing in Rivers State should not be allowed to snowball into a conflagration that would impact the economy of the country.
He said: “Except we have forgotten so soon where we are coming from in terms of oil production that went down to seven hundred Thousand barrels per day. The threat from militant groups who may be regrouping must be taken seriously. To destroy is easy but to rebuild takes time.
“It is instructive for the gladiators to sheath their swords by finding common ground and patch things up before it is too late. Anything less than a million barrels per day of Oil production cannot sustain government expenditures. In terms of revenue losses the government may suffer if the threat from the militant groups is actualized, we may be talking of about three trillion naira every day of revenue losses to government.”
Also, the former President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Peter Esele, said if the threat from the militants is carried out, it would have far-reaching economic and security implications.
“It will scare aware potential investors from the region. The economic importance of the Niger Delta region cannot be overemphasized. That is why government must do everything possible to ensure that the threat is not carried out”.
Esele noted that the Nigerian government cannot afford another phase of economic sabotage the way it did in early 2000 when oil production went to all-time low due to the activities of militancy in the region, advising government at all levels to ensure that political crisis in Rivers State does not take the country back to those dark days.
Lending his support to Fubara, a legal practitioner in Rivers State, Kenneth Amadi, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to commence recall proceedings against the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Amaewhule.
In the letter, dated March 7, 2025, and addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Rivers State, with the title, ‘Pre-Action Notice: Request made pursuant to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, and Freedom of Information Act, 2011, for a certified true copy of the verified voter register for Obio/Akpor Federal/State Constituency, Rivers State as preliminary steps towards the recall of Martins Amaewhule, the legislator representing Obio/Akpor State Constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly’.
A stamp on the acknowledgement copy of the letter showed that it was received by the INEC office on 11th March, 2025.
The lawyer explained in the letter that he is the lawyer to several indigenes of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Amaewhule’s constituency.
He further explained that the request is in accordance with the FOI Act, 2011, and sections 69 and 110 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 116 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which empowers INEC to conduct recall proceedings against a member of the National Assembly or State Assembly, or Area Council of the FCT, “upon the receipt of a valid petition alleging a loss of confidence in the member by more than 50 per cent of voters registered to vote in that member’s constituency”.
Part of the letter read, “I write in my capacity as a lawyer to several indigenes of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State who are desirous of initiating a recall of Martins Amaewhule for the following reasons:
“Defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress in December 2023.
“Failure to provide effective representation for the majority of the public interests of constituents, instead focusing on his own personal interests and the interests of his political godfather.
“Consistent involvement in undemocratic, illegal and violent impeachment activities since the year 2013 when he moved the motion for impeachment of a duly and legally appointed Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Disobedience to the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on 28th February 2025 which directed all parties to await the final determination of the legal status of Amaewhule and 26 other law-makers of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected in December 2023.
“Illegal usurpation of the duties of His Excellency, Governor of Rivers State by amendment of certain laws of Rivers State to confer upon himself the powers to extend the tenure of Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State and appointment of Commissioners of the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission (just to mention a few).
“Failure to fulfill his campaign promises to build agriculture and aquaculture farms for youths of Obio/Akpor State constituency, just to mention a few.
“Failure to publish and comply with a legislative agenda of the Rivers State House of Assembly as is the legislative practice of the National Assembly.”
The letter warned that if the requested CTC of the voter register is not made available within seven days, the constituents will take legal action to enforce their legal rights.
Again, PANDEF has lashed out at Wike, saying his comments were disparaging. Addressing a news conference on Friday, March 14, 2025, Victor Attah, PANDEF’s Board of Trustees Chairman, expressed deep concern over Wike’s comments, saying they were “unwarranted and unbecoming” of a public official.
Attah emphasized that PANDEF has made genuine efforts to resolve the lingering issues in Rivers State, but that Wike’s comments have hindered progress.
PANDEF said: “Three days ago, on Tuesday, 11th March 2025, an eminent delegation of PANDEF comprising some of the most distinguished elders from our region was received in audience by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Among the troubling issues facing the region for which we sought the President’s intervention was the potentially explosive political situation in Rivers State. We made it clear to Mr. President that there was a need for him to impress upon the key personalities involved, one of whom is his cabinet minister, the necessity of prioritizing peace. We were firm in our resolve that an amicable resolution must be secured. Such a resolution as can only be secured by negotiation, hence our setting up of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee.
“We brought to the attention of Mr. President, the difficulties that we were experiencing in trying to secure the cooperation of his cabinet minister for the Federal Capital Territory, since all our attempts in the past to meet with the Hon Minister had been rebuffed. Mr. President did not give us the impression that, in receiving us in audience, he was meeting with representatives of ‘the worst organization for anyone to rely on’ as PANDEF has been described in a recent media chat by Wike. This however seems to have explained his refusal to meet with the ‘Peace and Reconciliation Committee.’
“It must be realized that it is not possible to clap with one hand and negotiations can only take place if the parties in dispute agree to make themselves accessible and available. Should this fail, PANDEF would have no other choice than to disband the Peace and Reconciliation Committee and withdraw totally from any attempt to resolve this unfortunate lock jam.
“Our fear, however, is that this could have catastrophic consequences”.
