Despite implementation of parts of the peace accord signed by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the crisis between the duo appears not to be ending anytime soon.
Hoodlums suspected to be political thugs, yesterday, vandalised canopies and chairs set up to celebrate the Supreme Court judgment of the governor at Ahoada West Council of the State.
Recall that the Apex Court had, on January 25, 2024, delivered judgment in favour of Fubara, dismissing applications of Tonye Cole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the March 2023 elections.
Since the Supreme Court victory, supporters of Fubara have continued to celebrate till date, because many feared that it would have ended the lingering battle between him and Wike if it had gone the other way.
After the earlier disruptions, the event was later moved to another venue where the Chairman of the council, Hope Ikiriko, later appeared and debunked allegations that he sent hoodlums to disrupt the rally.
It was gathered that the rally was successfully held at the later venue, and the leader of Fubara supporters in Ahoada West, and one of the four Assembly members loyal to him, Sokari Goodboy, urged President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to take note of the provocative actions.
Meanwhile, a former Chief Whip of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, while speaking at the rally, revealed that detractors were paid huge amounts to truncate governance in the state and to unseat the governor.
A statement from the Government House Press Unit, yesterday, quoted Bipi, who represented the governor at the event, as saying that detractors are afraid of massive support to Fubara, which was the reason they have resorted to intimidation and harassment of the governor’s supporters in the state.
HOWEVER, the Minister of the FCT has said that Tinubu’s intervention has made the executive, legislature and judiciary work independently in Rivers State.
Wike declared that peace has been restored in the state with the working of the three arms of government. He spoke while addressing journalists on his political tussle with Fubara.
He said: “The executive, legislature and the judiciary are all functioning independently. All thanks to the President.”
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
