SaharaReporters reported that the political crisis ravaging Rivers State followed a prolonged disagreement between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, political godfather and now Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has expressed regret in making Siminalayi Fubara his successor.

SaharaReporters reported that the political crisis ravaging Rivers State followed a prolonged disagreement between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, political godfather and now Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Rivers State was plunged into a political crisis last October, leading to the burning of the House of Assembly following alleged moves to impeach Fubara.

The crisis consequently led to the emergence of two factional speakers – Matins Amaehule, loyal to Wike; and Edison Ehie, a strong supporter of Fubara.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service organised by Obuah in Omoku, Rivers State, on Sunday, Wike declared that he bought nomination forms for Fubara and every politician holding elective positions in the state.

According to him, he begged other governorship aspirants including former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party to step down for him to make Fubara governor.

When 27 lawmakers loyal to him defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress last year, said that he bought nomination forms for all the elected political office holders from the state in the 2023 general elections.

Begging for forgiveness for choosing to support Fubara instead of Felix Obuah, he said: “Leadership is all about firmness, it’s all about courage, it’s all about transparency. When a leader takes a decision that is wrong, nothing stops that leader from coming back to say, I am sorry for that decision I took. My relationship with Felix Obuah started 2004, when he became the Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government. That was my second tenure and that was his first tenure.

He showed that he is a man whom God has blessed and therefore he always contributes to people in appreciation of God’s favour in his life. It may be painful how Obuah was treated by the then government, but he is one of those people who will not hesitate to obey my decision.

“That is why I say, today, I will use this opportunity to do something that is uncommon. In 2023, if you look at those which ordinarily I should support for governorship, Go Round (Obuah) should be one of them in the forefront.

“That is if we do things based on your contribution, based on your support, Go Round is the first two persons that ought to get my support. So, I want to use this opportunity to apologise to all of you, to ONELGA for taking a decision that hurt you. I am sorry.

“Your judgement may not be right all the time, but I am a human being, I may make mistake, but it’s important for you realise your mistake and apologise to the people. So, I beg you to beg ‘Go Round’ to forgive me. I hope one day another opportunity may come, but let nobody lose faith.

If God has blessed you, no amount of gang-up that can make you lose faith in your God. That strength that God has given us, we will replicate it at the appropriate time. We will know who knows left and who knows right. Obuah as the leader of the party, supported me and I become the governor.”

Speaking on his experience during and after office as governor, Wike explained that he supported his successor, but regretted that he inherited nothing from his predecessor.

“This is not time for politicking but to let you know we are there. We have the capacity. Some people said they bought the deputy governor. No problem. Tell them to eat. We know how water entered melon.

“Some people today are claiming they brought, but what is important is that we all know how it happened. I initiated the Ring Road; I contracted Julius Berger before I left office to dualise the trans-Kalabari road. As the governor, I approved all the major projects because I believe there is going to be consolidation of government.

“I laid the foundation but nobody laid the foundation for me, I came and saw nothing. No handover note to me. I didn’t have any car even on my swearing-in day. I had to borrow car from Ondo State. The governor then, Mimiko donated their own car to us for my swearing-in.

“But as soon as I left as governor, I provided cars for everybody that was coming as a governor, deputy governor. It doesn’t matter about people abusing me. They said Wike is wicked, is the same man that told ‘Go Round/ and others to step down. You benefited from the wickedness. Don’t worry, whatever you sow, you will reap.”

He pledged to accept the decision of President Tinubu to resolve the impasse in the state for peace to reign.

“I will accept whatever Mr. President has said and to the glory of God our own team, we have kept our own part and I have also told Mr President that there is nothing in this world that will make me disobey him.”