In a dramatic twist to the ongoing political feud in Rivers State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, of instigating Governor Siminalayi Fubara to disobey President Bola Tinubu.
Wike made this explosive allegation during a reception for Rivers State stakeholders held on Friday, as tensions continue to escalate in the state’s political landscape.
According to Wike, Odili’s alleged interference is the primary reason behind the breakdown of a previously brokered peace agreement between his camp and Fubara’s. The eight-point peace deal, signed in 2023, was facilitated by Tinubu and other political heavyweights, including Odili, during a high-stakes meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. However, the agreement has since crumbled under accusations of betrayal and manipulation.
“The peace deal was meant to restore harmony, but certain individuals, like Dr. Odili, have chosen to fuel division for their own interests,” Wike stated, pointing fingers at the elder statesman.
The rivalry between Wike and Fubara, once allies, has grown increasingly acrimonious. The young governor, Fubara, accused Wike’s camp of ambushing him into signing the peace deal, suggesting that the agreement was never in his favor. Meanwhile, Odili, a two-term governor known for his influence in Rivers State politics, has publicly accused Wike of pursuing a self-serving agenda.
Political analysts observe that the fallout between Wike and Fubara represents a broader struggle for control of Rivers State, with significant implications for the state’s governance and alignment with the Tinubu administration.
Insiders suggest that this rift could undermine the cohesion of the state’s political machinery, with factions aligning themselves behind either Wike’s or Fubara’s camp. This division, they warn, could derail developmental efforts in Rivers State, as the state’s leadership appears more engrossed in political warfare than governance.
With both camps hurling accusations and the peace deal in tatters, all eyes are now on President Tinubu and other stakeholders to see whether they will intervene once again to broker a truce or let the crisis deepen.
The unfolding drama underscores the volatility of political alliances in Nigeria, where former allies can quickly become sworn adversaries, and elder statesmen, like Odili, can be thrust into the crossfire of political storms.
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