Though not entirely unexpected, the current political crisis stemming from the disagreement between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, godfather and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, came too soon, leaving some state stakeholders ill-prepared for their next political move.However, given the current circumstances, a large number of them have begun the process of realigning—covertly for those who lack the guts and blatantly for those who are uncertain of the pendulum's swing.
In fact, a significant number of leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and irate members of the All Progressives Party (APC) are covertly supporting Fubara, and some are waiting to see who prevails in order to decide where to set up shop.
A few irate PDP House of Representatives members have already set up camp with Fubara because they are concerned about the direction things are going.
Previously, Wike controlled the party and the state as if he were a one-man show; he made all the decisions and dictated what happened to whom. Despite their disapproval of the development, some party members persisted in their misfortune, seemingly fearful that the former governor would take away their possibilities.
For example, two federal lawmakers who organized a solidarity walk for the governor from UTC Junction with youths to Government House gate in Port Harcourt, Boma Goodhead, representing Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru Federal Constituency, and Awaji-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, spoke angrily like people who had been imprisoned up until that point.
They also demanded the arrest of individuals responsible for starting or continuing the state's crisis.
Politics in the state would change regardless of how this catastrophe turned out. The political landscape in the state has changed as a result of the divide between Wike and Fubara.
The ruling party's national leadership had dissolved the previous state executive and given the leadership to a caretaker committee chaired by Mr. Tony Okocha, a close ally of Wike. Many in the PDP believe that President Bola Tinubu may have offered the former state chairman, Desmond Akawor, a federal appointment in order to weaken the party enough and clear the way for APC to swallow it.
In the end, the conduct enraged many who supported Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, the former state governor and current minister of transportation. It makes sense that Okocha acted quickly to hail the transfer of the first 27—now 26—lawmakers from the PDP to his party.
Even though many predict a change in allegiance in the next few days, the state's PDP leadership is split between the two gladiators.
The APC feels as like half of its soul has been removed and left unfinished. It seems that the Amaechi camp, which has ruled for years, is falling behind. However, that might not last for very long because it's unclear how the leadership of a Wike stooge would absorb it.
Remember that in 2014, Amaechi and Wike—who had previously been political allies—became fierce enemies after the former left the PDP for the APC.
It is understandable why Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent figure in the APC and the former national publicity secretary of the now-defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), maintained that Amaechi remains the party's undisputed leader in the South-South. The schemes against him will all fall apart.
"It is very sad and unfortunate that there is a move to start the impeachment process against the governor simply because he wants to bring back most of Amaechi's vision, like the Songhai and Greater Port Harcourt, which are all aimed at making Rivers State self-sufficient and empowering most youths."
Recalling that in 2014, he had backed five lawmakers led by Evans Bipi in their attempt to fire 27 colleagues who were loyal to Amaechi, the state's governor at the time, and elect Bipi as speaker, Eze had earlier stated that the law of retributive justice was working against Wike.
Wike-supporting PDP splinters may join the APC in the coming days; this process has already begun, while Amaechi-supporting APC splinters may, on the other hand, re-join the PDP or, at the very least, provide support to Fubara.
Fubara, who he claimed was on the defensive, has been instructed by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), to have an open mind, seek advice from a wide range of sources, and observe carefully before acting.
He observed that the governor had handled the situation admirably thus far, noting that it was admirable that he chose to put his attention on matters that would help him carry out his governance rather than retaliating.
The former governor's primary motivation for wanting his successor removed, according to Fyneface, is best known to his godson and godfather.
The activist urged all sides in the dispute to lay down their weapons and let the state maintain peace for the benefit of its citizens.