FUBARA IS MY ‘BOY’ – WIKE

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By Oduola F.A.

Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike rhas describbed his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, as his “boy” amid ongoing political tensions between them. Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, noted that while President Bola Tinubu has called for peace, he does not oppose the initiative.

“That boy is my boy, my son. How can I fight a battle with him? Those I fight are people who want to steal what they did not work for.

“The President called me to make peace; I said, ‘Boss, how will you tell me to make peace and I won’t?’” he said in an interview with the BBC Pidgin.

The disagreement between Wike and Fubara led to a political crisis in the state.

Consequently, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Fubara, his deputy, and the House of Assembly.

He also appointed a retired naval chief, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the sole administrator to pilot the affairs of the state for the first six months.

The president’s decision led to protests and counter-protests by different groups in the state.

Worried by Tinubu’s decision, 11 Peoples Democratic Party governors filed a suit at the Supreme Court to challenge his action.

But the National Assembly urged the court to dismiss the suit filed by the PDP governors challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, contending that the suit was procedurally flawed and lacked merit.

It further argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and should award N1 billion in costs against the plaintiffs for filing what it termed a frivolous and speculative suit.

However, Fubara, on May 11, said he was not desperate to return to office.

Speaking at the service of songs held in honour of the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, he said, “Do you even know if I want to go back there? My spirit has already left there,” he said.

He further warned that some of the actions taken by some of his supporters, though well-intended, had only worsened the situation.