Gov Fubara, Wike Fall Apart

Information reaching our news desk suggests very strongly that the governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara may resign his position as governor, if drastic mending action is not taken by the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State to step in and provide him some relief.
The governor who was singlehandedly picked and foisted by his predecessor and immediate past governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike is reported to be felling completely emasculated by the unrelenting control exerted by Wike, who is currently minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
Sources assert authoritatively that the governor has even threatened to resign, if vital aspects of governance are not addressed in a tidy and timely manner by the party leadership in the state.
One recurring decimal in the alleged face-off between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his godfather is the issue of disrespect.
Regardless of the manner in which Gov Fubara emerged as the helmsman of the state, his supporters insist that Fubara deserves the respect that is fitting for the position he occupies. A source noted that, ”Can you imagine that the former governor does not call him himself ? Rather, he sends his aides and underlings to call him, whenever he needs him”.
This supporter of governor Fubara who pleaded anonymity, alleges that when summoned by his godfather, the governor could be kept waiting for up to three hours before he would see the godfather.
More damning and difficult to swallow for Fubara’s supporters, is the fact that out of 15 commissioners, the godfather single-handedly nominated 14 of the present 15 commissioners. The only slot that was given to Governor Fubara, is said to be that of the position of commissioner for Women Affairs held by Dr. Roseline Adawari Uranta.
There are also claims from the Fubara camp that a very large chunk of the internally generated revenue (IGR) in the state goes to the godfather. These very incensed acolytes of Gov. Fubara also assert that a large chunk of the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Allocation Account Committee, FAAC in Abuja, goes to a well-known construction firm in the state, since many contracts were awarded to them in the twilight of the last administration in the state.
Our sources claim that these matters of state got to an unbearable state to the extent that the open face-off between Governor Fubara and the godfather had to be settled by renowned elders of the state. They insist that a former governor of the state was in the meeting to broker peace between the two.
Our sources hint that a palatable resolution to the face-off could not be midwifed at this meeting.
At the end of the crucial meeting, the governor took a long walk, insisting that he must be allowed to take full charge of the reins of government or he might be forced to resign.
There were allegedly even threats of impeachment. However, our discreet checks at the Rivers State House of Assembly suggest that about 80 percent of the lawmakers may be supporting Governor Sim Fubara in case of any head on collision.
Our sources at the crucial meeting claim that governor Sim Fubara is insisting on being given a free hand to administer the state if the powers that be, want him to continue in office.
Our checks also indicate that many key ministries in the state are being headed by acolytes of the former governor, Wike.
An indication that the camp of the godfather may have conceded some ground to the beleaguered governor came to the fore recently. Students of Rivers State origin were jubilant when news filtered in that the Gov Fubara administration would pay bursary to Rivers students.
The matter of paying bursary to students in tertiary institutions, had been halted from the Chibuike Amaechi administration 2007-2015, down to Wike’s administration which ended May 2023. This is a radical departure from past administrations.
It remains to be seen in the coming days whether Governor Sim Fubara would be allowed to take full charge of the state or, if his godfather would tighten the chokehold, compelling him to continue to endure his reality of being a puppet whose strings are being manipulated by the man who put him in office.