The ongoing political crisis between the Governor of Rivers State, Siminilaye Fubara and his predecessor and Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike has resulted into deeper crisis amongst the supporters of Mr. Wike.
FACTSHEET has learned that Governor Fubara has given marching orders to all government appointees to decide what camp to belong. This according to a senior staff of the Government House in Port Harcourt who pleaded anonymity has led to confusion among political loyalists of the FCT Minister.
The source told FACTSHEET that the governor “was not forcing anyone to resign,” but rather pleaded that peace be made as they “are all Rivers’ people,” but insists that there is “only one Rivers State Government.”
The political crisis is already taking a heavy toll on the Wike camp as his loyal supporters are torn between staying put with Governor Fubara at the risk of being seen as “ungrateful” people or going to Abuja to “suffer the Oshiomole group syndrome.”
FACTSHEET reported that the Prof. Zacchaeus Adange, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) had turned in his resignation letter dated “November 14, 2023” on Thursday, he was the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice.
And immediately on Thursday night three other key commissioners, namely, Mrs. Chinwenwo Aguma, Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Dr. George-Kelly Alabo, Commissioner for Works and Barr. Isaac Kamalu, Commissioner for Finance also turned in their resignation letters all dated “December 14, 2023.”
Meanwhile, two out of the 27 state lawmakers that had earlier defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) had already retraced their steps back to the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The source that spoke with FACTSHEET also indicated that while Wike supporters are “moving to the APC, supporters of the a former governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and are already aligning forces with Governor Sim Fubara’s camp in order to contain the “Abuja group” being led by Mr. Wike.
Neither Wike nor Fubara has publicly commented on the latest political maneuverings.