- Fubara’s Chief Of Staff, Commissioners Won’t Return To Office
- Shocking Thing Wike Told Fubara After Peace Pact
Ofonime UMANAH/Onyeche Wofurum IGWE
All those who served as commissioners and special advisers as at the day Sim Fubara was suspended as governor of Rivers State will not return to their respective offices, neither will they be appointed into other offices when the governor returns.
Also, Edison Ehie, who chose to resign as member of the state house of assembly to serve as chief of staff, Government House, will not return. His own offence is that he was seen as the arrowhead in the fight and insults against the FCT Minister, Dr Nyesom Wike.
But Dr Peter Odili, a former governor of the state, whom Wike used to brag about as his father, may be the biggest loser in the unfolding power play in the state. Fubara is almost not likely to patronize his medical university again when he returns.
This is to serve as punishment for allegedly standing with Fubara against Wike’s interest while the feud lasted. It was Wike, however, that initiated the scholarship funds for Rivers students in the university, with the payment of comprehensive fees throughout the duration of each of the student’s studies in the school.
Fubara was to take over from where Wike stopped, giving the university a major financial strength. The annual scholarship ran into billions of naira. But the scheme is to be stopped and Fubara is said to have accepted the condition as part of the peace pact with Wike.
TNN learnt on Friday night from a very close source to the former governor who was privy to the peace deal, that Fubara was not opposed to any of the conditions given to him by Wike.
Unlike what happened when the first peace deal was stuck in Aso Rock some months ago, all those who witnessed the latest deal were from Wike’s side. No supporter of Fubara was there when the latest agreement was being signed.
Fubara, according to the source, has been warned not to have anything to do with all those who, in the words of Wike, misled and il advised him, including the likes of Odili, Autin Opara, Celestine Omehia, Uche Secondus, David Briggs, et cetera.
The source did not say exactly when Fubara is likely to return, but he said the sole administrator is very likely to serve out the six months emergency rule period before the suspended governor returns.
TNN was informed that in the course of discussions between Fubara and Wike, the suspended governor had told Wike that having agreed not to bring back the commissioners that were with him before the suspension, he would draw a list and show him for approval.
But the source quoted Wike as having told Fubara to go ahead and appoint those he wishes, as long as they were not among those who insulted him. But he did not say whether Wike will not approve the list in the long run.
But he told TNN that Wike will be in charge of the government. He confirmed what is already in public domain-all the 23 local government that will emerge from the coming elections would have Wike’s imprimatur, even thought the minister would not want to be seen as being in control of the governance structure of the state.
He also confirmed that Fubara will not be allowed to seek a re-election at the end of his first term in 2027.
He said Wike was satisfied that he had thought Fubara a lesson in how not to toy with political loyalty. According to him, Wike has humbled Fubara enough and will have the full support of the house of assembly members under Martins Amaewhule’s leadership, as long as he did not bring any of those considered to be Wike’s political enemies close to the seat of power.
Meanwhile, the peace deal has continued to attract mixed reactions across the state and beyond. While some hailed the move as a step towards peace and stability in the state, others criticized the development, suggesting it was driven by personal and political interests rather than the welfare of the people.
A certain Anthony, a staff of Rivers State Judiciary, told TNN that even if the agreement was not favourable, the governor had to give room for peace to return to the state.
A social commentator, Wisdom Enyi, who also reacted to the development, condemned the reconciliation, saying it was part of a broader scheme to consolidate political control over the state.
“Nothing agreed here was in the best interest of the state. It was all for the selfish interest of those involved,” he said in a statement, while also accusing the president, Bola Tinubu of orchestrating the crisis and described the reconciliation as part of a “civilian dictatorship” aimed at capturing the state politically and economically.
“The president created a crisis the Supreme Court had already resolved, only to return as a peacemaker. History will judge him harshly,” Enyi added.
A fan of the governor, Homachi Enyindah, described the peace deal as a positive development, saying, “Let peace reign, I want peace I no want problem.” Other residents expressed cautious optimism, calling on all parties to prioritize the development and security of the state over political rivalry.
But Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, sees the reconciliation as more as a trap instead of a truce. “With Wike, the storm always returns because he will deliberately betray the agreement with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and blame it on Fubara.”
He made reference to Wike’s track record of reneging on promises and betraying political allies, saying, “from his vow at the PDP convention to abide by the outcome, which he swiftly disregarded, to his betrayal of Peter Odili, a man he once called his political father and his calculated political attacks on Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Wike’s pattern is clear; he honours only his ambition.”
Adeyanju advised Fubara to be cautious, saying, “Governor Fubara must prepare his mind that this reconciliation is a trap, and not a truce. Wike will not only undermine him now but also breach the agreement on purpose. If Wike’s antecedent is anything to go by, he will betray Tinubu at the right time.”
He also added that Wike sees loyalty as a tool, not a virtue, and that Fubara should understand that with Wike, the storm would always return.
