Governor Fubara Contemplated Resignation Amidst Escalating Rift with Wike, Reveals South-South Leader

In the midst of the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, National Coordinator of the South-South Leadership Forum, disclosed on Saturday that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had contemplated resigning from his position before the crisis reached its current intensity.

Sara-Igbe, a former spokesperson for the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), revealed that Governor Fubara’s willingness to resign stemmed from challenges in asserting independence and limited control over the state’s funds, exacerbated by difficulties in governing effectively.

The political turbulence in Rivers State revolves around the power struggle between Governor Fubara and his political godfather, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Sources indicate that the clash has plunged the state into a severe political crisis.

Speaking in an interview on Channels TV, Sara-Igbe predicted further departures from Fubara’s cabinet, citing Wike’s influence over the cabinet composition as evident in recent resignations by commissioners.

Sara-Igbe alleged that even after leaving office, Wike continued to wield influence over government operations, complicating Governor Fubara’s efforts to manage state affairs. He highlighted financial control issues, citing a decrease in internally generated revenue (IGR) and the allocation of federation account funds tied to specific projects during Wike’s tenure.

Despite the tensions, Sara-Igbe emphasized Governor Fubara’s loyalty and reluctance to engage in confrontations, likening their relationship to a father-son dynamic. He also expressed concern about Wike’s alleged attempts to control both the APC and PDP, attributing it to a quest for power at all costs, which he believes is causing some of the ongoing problems.

The interviewee concluded by urging Wike to allow Governor Fubara to govern freely and drawing parallels to other political relationships that experienced ideological disagreements, suggesting that amicable resolutions should prevail.