Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has publicly justified his dramatic defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), framing the move as a direct repayment of political goodwill extended by President Bola Tinubu amid one of Nigeria’s most intense gubernatorial crises.
In a candid revelation that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, Fubara disclosed that Tinubu’s intervention last year was pivotal in stabilizing his administration during a fierce power struggle with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The governor’s switch, announced just days ago, escalates tensions in Rivers State, a key oil-producing hub whose political loyalties could sway national dynamics ahead of future elections.
Speaking at a solidarity rally organized by the APC in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Fubara laid bare the backstory of his decision. “I had to return Tinubu’s favour,” he declared unequivocally, underscoring a sense of political indebtedness. He recounted how, in the heat of his impeachment saga, Tinubu stepped in as a mediator. “When they were impeaching me, Tinubu called me and said, ‘Sim, step down.’ I said, ‘Okay, Your Excellency.’ And since that day, I have stepped down on all issues. I have been dancing their music,” Fubara explained, using the anecdote to highlight his compliance with federal overtures.
The governor’s remarks come against the backdrop of a protracted feud with Wike, who remains a PDP heavyweight despite Fubara’s exit. Last year, the Rivers political crisis peaked when Wike-backed lawmakers defected to the APC, attempting to impeach Fubara. Tinubu’s 8-point peace accord, brokered in Abuja, effectively halted the process, granting Fubara temporary relief and control over state levers.
Fubara’s defection now flips the script, potentially consolidating APC influence in the Niger Delta and weakening PDP’s southern stronghold.Delving deeper into the personal toll, Fubara painted a vivid picture of the ordeal. “I was even ready to die. I told my wife, ‘If they kill me today, take my children back to school.’ Because I know that if they kill me, nobody will do anything,” he shared, revealing the existential stakes.
He credited Tinubu’s call not just for political salvation but for restoring normalcy. “The following morning, everything became normal. Markets opened, schools opened. So, when they were talking about the so-called peace deal, that was what saved Rivers State,” Fubara affirmed.The event, attended by throngs of APC supporters chanting pro-Fubara and pro-Tinubu slogans, also featured the governor outlining his vision for Rivers under the APC banner. “I know that with President Tinubu, Rivers State is safe,” he assured the crowd, signaling a strategic alignment with the federal government.
This comes amid ongoing legal battles, including Supreme Court rulings affirming Fubara’s mandate and recent moves by Wike loyalists to reclaim influence.Political analysts view Fubara’s defection as a masterstroke of realpolitik, potentially neutralizing Wike’s threats while securing federal patronage for infrastructure and oil-related projects in Rivers.
However, PDP chieftains have decried it as betrayal, with some calling for his impeachment. Wike, yet to respond publicly, faces a reshuffled power equation in his home state.Fubara’s address also touched on reconciliation overtures. “I have no problem with Wike. Let him do whatever he wants to do. I am focused on Rivers people,” he stated, emphasizing governance over vendettas.
As Rivers navigates this seismic shift, stakeholders watch closely: will this “returned favour” usher stability or ignite fresh turmoil in Nigeria’s volatile political arena?
