As Fubara’s Return Nears, Wike Tightens Grip On State Politics
Tension is building in Rivers State as the six-month emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu draws to an end, with elders of the state warning that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s imminent return may not restore stability.
The elders, under different platforms, accused President Tinubu of “sacrificing the people of Rivers State on the altar of his 2027 political ambition,” while alleging that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has tightened his hold on the state during the governor’s absence.
Tinubu had, on March 16, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers following political tensions and alleged attacks on oil pipelines. He suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly, appointing former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as State Administrator.
Speaking in an interview, Sunny Chukumele, convener of the Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought, lamented that the six-month emergency rule had completely altered the state’s political landscape.
> “The state is captured. That is my position. Rivers has been successfully subdued, and what we now see is a return to Egypt. The governor has been cowed, and the so-called peace is nothing but graveyard peace. The President has sacrificed Rivers people for his 2027 ambition,” Chukumele said.
He insisted that despite the political manipulations, “the people of Rivers will ultimately decide the future of their state.”
Another elder, Asukewe Iko-Awaji, warned that the prolonged suspension had eroded Fubara’s political capital, strained relationships, and worsened the state’s economy.
> “The truth is, the damage has been done. Fubara has been away from office for six months. Companies have pulled out, projects abandoned, and the spirit of brotherhood is broken. It will take him months to regain trust and bring back investors,” Iko-Awaji lamented.
He added that the once-vibrant political atmosphere had been poisoned by suspicion and division.
However, allies of Wike argue that the FCT Minister has only been forthright in his dealings. Former minister, Olaka Wogu, dismissed claims that Fubara’s return would dramatically alter the political landscape.
> “People over-speculate on Wike. He says things plainly, but people don’t listen. He fought for his structure and kept it. The governor is part of that structure. That’s just the reality,” Wogu maintained.
As Rivers people await the expiration of the emergency rule, uncertainty looms. Will Fubara return empowered to reclaim his mandate, or has Wike permanently cemented his grip on the state? Elders insist the answer lies not in Aso Rock, but in the will of Rivers people themselves.
PIONEER NEWS 