Hans Morgenthau, in his book Politics Among Nations, said that “International Politics, like all politics, is the struggle for power.” Before the feud between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor/Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Barrister Nyesom Wike, came to the fore, there had been undercurrents of what looked like a frosty relationship between the godson and his godfather.
It is not uncommon in Nigerian politics for governors to have disagreements with their godfathers or predecessors, even when they are in the same political party. Former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, had a running battle with his successor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. In Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola had political squabbles with Gboyega Oyetola; the case in Anambra State between Peter Obi and Willie Obiano was no different; in Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime had major political disagreements; the same thing happened in Rivers State between Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike. The examples in Kaduna, between Nasir El-Rufai and Shehu Sani, and in Kano State, between Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Abba Yusuf, are not different.
Nigerian politics is highly lucrative. Winners take it all, and losers lick their wounds. Politicians have the privilege to loot as much as they can and can as much as they loot. Winners are guaranteed transmutation from rags to riches. It is, therefore, not surprising that power struggles between and among politicians are often fierce.
Many reasons were adduced for the antagonistic contradictions between Governor Fubara and Barrister Wike. For supporters of Governor Fubara, Nyesom Wike was a meddlesome interloper who, rather than concentrate on his hectic ministerial duties in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, chose to be overbearing in the affairs of the Treasure Base of the Nation, behaving as if he were still its Chief Executive Officer. After all, they argued, when he, Wike, was Governor of Rivers State, his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, did not unnecessarily meddle with his administration.
On their part, supporters of Barrister Wike accused Governor Fubara of treachery, arguing that without Barrister Wike’s assistance, Fubara would not have emerged as Governor. The world is never kind to traitors; they see them as descendants of Judas Iscariot, often not minding the reasons for the perceived treachery. Whatever reasons Governor Fubara may have adduced for the frosty relationship with his benefactor, Barrister Wike, soon after he became Governor, they were unacceptable to Wike’s supporters.
Even when supporters of Governor Fubara alleged that Barrister Wike wanted Fubara to loot the Rivers State coffers, supporters of Barrister Wike asked if Governor Fubara had not benefitted from the proceeds of looting in the past. They reminded Governor Fubara that before he became Governor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was on his trail over allegations of involvement in a ₦117 billion fraud, including charges of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office.
Supporters of Barrister Wike challenged Governor Fubara to tell the world how he, a civil servant and immediate past Accountant General of Rivers State, could have become Governor without Barrister Wike’s support. They were quick and vociferous in reminding Governor Fubara of the evergreen lines of Law No. 1 in Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power: never outshine your master. Though Fubara is Governor, supporters of Wike consider Wike the master, to whom Fubara should remain loyal.
Because peace in Rivers State was being threatened and there seemed to be no end in sight to the crisis, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was “compelled” to appoint a Sole Administrator for the State for six months. But, as they say, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The power tussle and antagonistic contradictions between Governor Fubara and Barrister Wike have not brought any meaningful development to Rivers State and its people.
We have not forgotten that this struggle led to the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly, blowing up of oil pipelines, among other crises. In addition, the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has unilaterally awarded a contract of ₦24 billion for the purchase of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras for the Rivers State Government House and ₦30 billion for the purchase of gunboats. To what extent these humongous amounts spent on these two items will bring development to the oil-rich state is anyone’s guess.
But the talking point has been the recent peace accord brokered by President Tinubu. Let us be reminded that peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice. It would seem that only Wike and his allies came out smiling, while Fubara and his cohorts came out grimacing.
As part of the peace deal, Barrister Wike is to select the 23 local government chairpersons in the state; Governor Fubara agreed to withdraw all matters he took to court concerning the crisis; and Governor Fubara agreed not to seek re-election in 2027. What seems to be the only “gain” in the peace resolution for Governor Fubara is that, as long as he religiously cleaves to the peace accord, he will not be impeached.
A proverb says: “To dine with the devil, use a long spoon.” At the beginning of Governor Fubara’s administration, a viral video showed former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, admonishing him to tread with caution in his dealings with Wike and show him loyalty, or else there could be consequences. For whatever reason, it is obvious Governor Fubara did not listen.
Without doubt, the peace accord was not a fair deal. It will make Sim Fubara look more like a ceremonial than an executive governor. Whether Governor Fubara will, like the immediate past Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, defect when it becomes obvious he will not get his party’s ticket for a second term, following an acrimonious relationship with his godfather and predecessor, or whether he will toe the line of former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who, when he was denied his party’s ticket for a second term, threw in the towel — year 2026 will decide, when the primaries of all political parties will hold.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 