I Got The Advice From A Madman” – How Fubara’s Imitation Of Obaseki’s Style Led To His Downfall

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One of the most viral memes today features the voice of Peter Obi declaring, “I got the advice from a madman.”That line is pure gold — iconic and destined to remain evergreen. And honestly, it’s the first thing that comes to mind when news broke of Governor Fubara’s dramatic exit from office.

You see, governors — once they ascend to power — often get swept up in ego, pride, and, of course, the seductive grip of massive wealth. The allure of power can make them feel untouchable, like they’ve tapped into an endless stream of riches. And in Fubara’s case, it seems he borrowed more than just ideas from Godwin Obaseki — he may have also inherited the same missteps that led to political ruin.

Godwin Obaseki, during his clash with the APC and its leadership, refused to inaugurate 14 duly elected members of the Edo State House of Assembly—and got away with it. Then-President Buhari turned a blind eye to this political recklessness, driven by his own political interests. Rather than intervene, he worsened the situation through inaction.

Similarly, Sim Fubara—who, unlike Obaseki, lacks genuine grassroots support (evident in the fact that he only had 3 out of 32 lawmakers backing him)—tried to adopt Obaseki’s confrontational playbook.

What Fubara failed to grasp is that Obaseki had powerful backing—from the Presidency, a faction of the APC, and the PDP(With Wike Spearheading it) —which gave him the leverage to succeed. Fubara, on the other hand, couldn’t even count on the local government chairmen he handpicked; a court ruling sent all of them packing, leaving him isolated and politically exposed.

Here’s the key difference between Obaseki’s success and Fubara’s failure: at the time, the APC leadership—a tightly knit cartel—was strategically aligned with Obaseki. They supported his rebellion to undermine Adams Oshiomhole’s leadership as National Chairman, with the broader aim of disrupting Tinubu’s path to securing the 2023 APC presidential ticket. Fubara, on the other hand, lacked both this strategic backing and the political finesse to navigate the storm, so where did he get the advice from to become a David to face Goliath ?

Fubara went as far as physically demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, effectively shutting down 27 lawmakers in one sweeping move. In desperation, he ran to Atiku Abubakar for support—a man who couldn’t even tame Wike within the PDP, a party too timid to challenge Nyesom Wike’s dominance. By doing so, Fubara not only broke all constitutional norms but also openly engaged in illegality, thinking brute force and political theatrics could substitute for lawful governance.

The President called for a truce, and Fubara nodded in agreement—only to return to Rivers State and shamelessly say “no.” That’s classic Sim Fubara for you. Like a SIM card trying to operate without network coverage, he’s all talk and no connection. Now, he don drink water, but he no fit drop cup—caught in a mess of his own making, unable to retreat or move forward without exposing the chaos he started.

You can’t build legality on illegality—just as you can’t build a house on quicksand and expect it to stand. Sim Fubara, in his desperation, ignored this basic truth. He tore down institutions, flouted the law, and sought counsel from those who couldn’t even manage their own political battles. In the end, it’s clear: Fubara didn’t just take advice from a madman—he became the architect of chaos, trying to build illegality upon illegality. Now, like a SIM card with no network, he’s stranded—no signal, no support, and nowhere left to turn.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Principal and CEO of Bush Radio Academy.