Rivers Power Tussle Deepens As Fubara, Wike Camps Clash Over Cabinet Appointments

A new dispute is reportedly emerging between the camps of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, despite earlier efforts to restore peace.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Sources told Punch that the latest tension is linked to unresolved elements of the reconciliation agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu months ago, with disagreements now focusing on the formation of a new state cabinet.

Tinubu had intervened to end a prolonged political standoff between Fubara and Wike, a crisis that eventually led to a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State. However, months after the truce, investigations suggest that the rivalry has persisted, as key issues driving the conflict remain unsettled.

After his reinstatement in September, Governor Fubara retained eight commissioners who were not affected by the Supreme Court ruling that recognised Martins Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Earlier, he had dissolved the cabinet following the end of emergency rule, creating room for a new executive council.

Sources revealed that despite multiple meetings between the governor and lawmakers, agreement has yet to be reached on a fresh list of commissioner nominees. Insiders claim that members of the Assembly intend to block any nominee not aligned with the Wike faction, as part of efforts to maintain political influence in the state.

A senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) official alleged that the FCT minister was pushing to control a large share of the cabinet, reportedly demanding as many as 12 commissioner positions.

“If you ask for 12 commissioners, what is left for the governor?” the source queried. “Requesting three, four or even five may be reasonable, but 12 is excessive, especially after taking over all 23 local government areas. Commissioners are the governor’s closest working partners, and he must be comfortable with them.”

However, another PDP stakeholder and staunch ally of Wike, Chimelem Wodi, dismissed the allegation, describing it as misinformation spread by political opportunists seeking relevance.

Wodi, who serves as legal adviser to the Federal Commissioner to the President on Christian Pilgrimage for the South-South, said Wike was “far above such pursuits,” noting that the former Rivers governor has held nearly every major political office, including local government chairman, ALGON national chairman, governor, and now minister.

He argued that Governor Fubara had failed to come to terms with the reality of having a political godfather, insisting that the Rivers political crisis had already been resolved by presidential intervention.

According to Wodi, those promoting the narrative are political jobbers who resurfaced after months of obscurity following the state of emergency. He added that if any such demands truly existed, they would have been openly discussed with stakeholders, stressing that Wike is not known for making secretive arrangements.

Wodi warned that the rumours could unnecessarily inflame political tensions, adding that the FCT minister’s silence was simply because the issue had already been settled.