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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Babatunde Fashola, a former Lagos State Governor, smartly evaded a booby trap set for him when he appeared before the Nigerian Senate for ministerial screening in 2015 when a Senator asked him if he would be loyal to the nation in the discharge of his duties as a minister.
The question was believed to have been prompted by the perceived political disagreement between him and his erstwhile boss and benefactor, who is currently the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The division between the two men was widely perceived as disloyalty on the part of Fashola who was said to have been single- handedly installed by Tinubu to succeed him as governor of Lagos State in 2007, against all odds.
Fashola’s smart response to the lethal question remains a famous quote among Nigerians till date. “I will say one prayer here. ‘May our loyalty never be tested,” the senior advocate, who was later confirmed for ministerial appointment, calmly told his bewildered audience.
Years later, the former minister’s prayer appears to be having an expression in what is currently playing out in Rivers State politics. Recent developments in the state has caught many unawares and sent tongues wagging on the possible implications for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
It is beyond the comprehension of political pundits how a once-upon-a-time cordial relationship, with bonds which seems unbreakable, between Fubara and his alleged benefactor, Nyesom Wike, could be so severed to the point that it will lead to an impeachment move against the former.
Fubara started his career in 2003 as a principal accountant with the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board. He rose to the position of Director of Finance and Accounts at the Government House in 2015 and rose to the position of Permanent Secretary in March 2020. He was appointed the Accountant General of Rivers State on December 23, 2020 by Wike.
Fubara’s sojourn into the murky waters of politics came as a shock to many; from the records, he was not a member of any political party and was apolitical. He carried out his duties with utmost dedication as a civil servant that he was. It came as a shock to many when in May, 2022, he won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries with 721 votes against heavyweights like former state chairman of the party, Felix Obua; George Kelly, Commissioner for Works, Tammy Danagogo; former Minister and Secretary to the State Government, David Briggs and Chief West Morgan amongst others. But with the PDP governorship ticket in his kitty, Fubara murdered sleep.
Soon after he clinched the ticket, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him and 58 others wanted for alleged N435 billion fraud.
The anti-graft agency’s Head of Media and Publicity at the time, Wilson Uwujaren, called on the general public to assist in apprehending him and other suspects. Thus began his odyssey.
An attempt was made by EFCC operatives to effect Fubara’s arrest at the Port Harcourt International Airport, but they were resisted by some non-state actors allegedly loyal to the immediate past governor of the state and current FCT Minister, Wike. It then became a game of wits between the former governor and EFCC over the arrest and prosecution of Fubara as he was protected by a tight security network under the cover of Wike.
Fubara enjoyed this protective cover until he won the governorship election and was sworn-in as governor of Rivers State on May 29, 2023. With his new status, he assumed full immunity from arrest and prosecution. However, his travails did not end there.
In July, 2023, the governor flagged off the ring road project at a whopping cost of N200 billion. Tongues wagged as to the proprietary of the project in view of the high rate of unemployment and poverty bedeviling residents and indigenes of the state, coupled with the fact that the contract process was alleged to be shrouded in mystery.
Peace reigned thereafter as almost all the political gladiators seemed to be in bed with the governor on this project for reasons best known to them. However, the clouds started gathering for Fubara when on October 30, 2023, the world woke up to the news of the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Before the flames were put out, the Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, removed and suspended the Majority Leader, Hon. Edison Ehie. The House thereafter issued an impeachment notice on Fubara.
Not deterred, the governor as the Chief Security Officer of the state embarked on a visit to the burnt assembly and in the process, he was water cannoned, shot at and tear gassed by the police. With the support of some members of the House of Assembly, his security details and other non-state actors, he eventually gained access into the assembly where he addressed newsmen.
A flurry of events followed thereafter. Ehie was then elected by another faction of the House of Assembly as the new Speaker. They proceeded to suspend Amaewhule and other principal officers. The Chief of Staff, Chief Security Officer and the Camp Commandant, Government House were reportedly relieved of their positions as well. At that point hell has been let loose, the dogs of war were unfettered and the chicken came home to roost.
In a swift move to ward off further damage, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called a meeting of the governor and Wike, who is alleged to be behind the conundrum to a peace meeting in Abuja. After the meeting, it was reported that peace had been restored between the warring parties.The governor has been busy telling all who care to listen that peace has been achieved and restored but Wike has been spitting venom indicative that he has not giving up the fight.
The minister granted an interview, where he labelled Fubara as an “ingrate.” Wike, who accused the governor of masterminding the burning of the House of Assembly, said he would do all it takes to maintain his “political structure” in the state.
Curiously, as the crises simmered, in a deft move that sent chills down the spine of keen observers, the Nigeria Police Force deployed Promise Wosu, the former Chief Security Officer to Wike as the new Commander of Special Protection Unit in Rivers State. Other security aides loyal to the former governor and sacked by Fubara were appointed to head other tactical unit of the police, including Irikefe London Owen and Emmanuel Nwakanme, who now heads the Counter Terrorism Unit and Operation Sting respectively. Also, a new Commissioner of Police in the person of Olatunji Disu was posted to the state.
As the war raged, Fubara promptly approached a Rivers State High Court and secured an interim injunction restraining the Amaewhule’s faction of the House of Assembly from impeaching him while Ehie went to the Federal High and obtained an interim injunction restraining Amaewhule faction from carrying out any legislative duties in the assembly pending the determination of the substantive suit.
However, on Monday, the Rivers State House of Assembly witnessed a significant shift in party representation as 27 lawmakers of the Amaewhule faction defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The move, which has got many Nigerians talking, reignited discussions on the possibility of impeaching Fubara.
The lawmakers officially announced their defection to the APC after Monday’s plenary. With the defection of 27 lawmakers out of 32, the APC now holds the majority in the House of Assembly. Impeachment discussions have, therefore, regained relevance among Nigerians.
However, temporary relieve came Fubara’s way on Tuesday after a Rivers State High Court barred the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike from going into the assembly complex until the burnt chamber is fully renovated by the state government.
Justice M.W. Danagogo, who delivered the judgement, also ordered the factional Speaker of the four lawmakers loyal to the governor, Edison Ehie, to preside over the activities of the legislative arm of the state pending the determination of a motion before it.
But the question on the lips of many is that can four members of the House of Assembly sit in leadership over a 31-member House, with the other 27 members who have defected to the APC?
The governor also appeared to have stoked the fire on Wednesday by presenting a N800 billion 2024 budget to four lawmakers loyal to him. It remains to be seen if only four members will approve the 2024 budget of the state and the legality behind such action considering that the house needs two-thirds majority to pass decisions.
As if that was not enough, the House of Assembly complex was demolished by the state government. And the reason given by government is that the demolition was due to the structural defects which arose mainly as a result of the recent explosion and fire incident which rendered the main building unfit for human use.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, said the state government would rebuild the complex.
Keen political observers have mused that the semblance of peace that appears to reign now is the peace of the grave yard as war looms. Wike has enhanced his reputation as someone who doesn’t take prisoners. He never forgives nor forgets. Nigerians recall the debacles that befell the PDP chairmen in the build up to the 2023 general elections.
With the defection of the 27 lawmakers and ongoing battle between the governor and Wike, the question on the lips of many Nigerians is will this be the end of the road for Fubara or will he survive the onslaught?