Judul : Fubara returns, hobbled
link : Fubara returns, hobbled
Fubara returns, hobbled
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday lifted the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State, ending months of measures imposed to restore peace after a fierce power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his godfather and predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Analysts, who spoke in separate interviews with Daily Trust last night, stated that the restoration of calm leaves the governor politically hobbled, with many of the state's levers of power outside his control.
Sequel to the heightened political tension in Rivers State, President Tinubu had, on March 18, declared a six-month state of emergency there and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd) as Sole Administrator.
Tinubu, in a statement he signed yesterday, declared that the emergency rule would end at midnight, clearing the way for Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule to resume duties today.
The president said he saw no reason for the state of emergency to continue a day longer.
He said he was encouraged by new developments that pointed to reconciliation and readiness among stakeholders in Rivers State to return to democratic governance.
'There is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance,' he stated. 'I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had
pronounced at the beginning of it.'
The president urged state governors and lawmakers across the country to remember that peace, order, and good governance are essential to delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.
Recalling the circumstances that led to the proclamation, Tinubu said governance in Rivers State had been paralysed as the governor and the lawmakers failed to work together, while critical assets such as oil pipelines were being vandalized. He noted that the Assembly was deeply divided, with only four members supporting the governor and 27 backing the Speaker, a situation that prevented the presentation of the Appropriation Bill and stalled the running of government.
'The serious constitutional impasse brought governance in the state to a standstill. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments, held that there was no government in Rivers State,' Tinubu said.
He said his intervention, alongside eff orts by other wellmeaning Nigerians, failed to resolve the crisis, forcing him to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to declare the emergency. The offices of the governor, deputy governor, and elected lawmakers were suspended for six months, which
expires today, September 17, 2025.
While acknowledging dissenting voices and over 40 court cases fi led to challenge the proclamation, Tinubu said such actions reflected the democratic process.
He said declaring a state of emergency was a constitutional tool to restore peace and order, stressing that Rivers State had reached a point of near total breakdown before the intervention.
'It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation,' he said.
On June 26, President Tinubu convened a reconciliation meeting with Wike and Fubara at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The duo late confirmed that their camps had reached a final agreement to end the feud and work together for the development of Rivers State.
Reports had quoted sources as revealing that the truce was brokered with conditions, including that Fubara agreed not to seek re-election in 2027, accepted Wike's leadership and consented to allowing him to nominate candidates for all local government elections under the People's Democratic Party (PDP) across the state.
The governor was also reported to have agreed that on his return, he would pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike.
The power struggle between Fubara and Wike started months into the former's administration.
Wike, who reportedly claimed to have bought nomination forms for all PDP candidates for the 2023 general elections in Rivers, sought to retain the control of the structure. Fubara had attempted to assert himself as governor.
The feud grounded governance in the state and led to an impeachment plot against the governor, spearheaded by a majority of lawmakers loyal to the former governor.
Daily Trust reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 20 local government areas in the council polls conducted recently in Rivers State; while Fubara's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won only three.
Fubara's wings have been clipped - Fage
Speaking to Daily Trust, Professor Kamilu Fage of Bayero University, Kano, said: 'Th e wings of Fubara have been clipped and even if he does not decamp to the APC, he will be a toothless bulldog when the election comes.'
'From the angle of the ruling party, they have achieved their aim in Rivers State because they have redirected the politics of the state, taken over the State Assembly and the majority of the local governments.'
He added that while the APC arrowheads in Rivers may have achieved their aim, the process was riddled with illegality which could undermine democracy and potentially spark another crisis.
Governor resuming as a weakling - Political analysts
A professor of Political Science at Ignatius Ajuru University, Port Harcourt, Prof. Kenneth Nweke, in a chat with Daily Trust, said most of the structures of governance had been taken away from Fubara. 'For me, there is so much uncertainty as to whether the powers of the governor as it were before the emergency rule will remain.
'It is clear to even the blind that what was the major problem was the structure, and the structure has been put in place by his godfather, the FCT Minister, and probably, that could have been part of the agreement or the understanding that led to the end of emergency rule in the first instance.
'Given that scenario, probably what may have played out would have been so much understanding around the issue of structure, local government councils has been put in place through a local government election that went on, and then a number of boards, almost all the boards were dissolved, and then now reconstituted.
'So, one would not expect the energy, the zeal to deliver as it was before the emergency rule. Now, ordinarily, but given the nature of Fubara that we know, if there is any sense left for him at all, in terms of utilizing the resources of Rivers State, any part that remains for him to utilize for the development of the state, I am quite sure that he will do everything within his powers to make that get to where it would get to,' he said.
Th e national president of the Nigeria Political Science Association, Professor Hassan Saliu, said Fubara's governorship had been compromised.
'Some of the actions taken during the emergency rule are things other governors would ordinarily raise questions about. He has learnt his lessons and must now recognise the political weight of those who urged him to fi ght his godfather.
He is more likely to dance to the tune of that godfather unless he succumbs to pressure again and reignites conflict.
'Fubara was not born as a governor but rose through the ranks of the civil service before becoming Rivers State Accountant General under Wike. He will continue to learn on the job and has already realised some mistakes he made. What cannot be denied is that he may have lost confidence in the early months of his tenure because of the experience he passed through.
'The picture of his resumption is not yet clear. It is a matter of waiting to see whether he is genuine about the peace deal or only stooped low to conquer,' the don said.
He, however, added that 'There is the possibility of Fubara becoming his own man or remaining loyal to his godfather. So we wait and watch.'
A political scientist, formerly of the University of Ilorin, Professor Gbade Ojo, also said Fubara would be resuming as a weakened governor 'because all the local governments are no longer under his control.'
'They want him to swallow what they could not tolerate when they were in power.
He will now run the state like a weakling till the end of his tenure because he has been crippled and castrated politically,' Ojo said.
Dr Mohammed Alada, a political scientist at the University of Ilorin, said the emergency rule had partly achieved its aim since the intention was to stabilise Rivers and provide an opportunity to broker peace between the governor and his godfather.
He, however, said that the governor would be resuming as an orphan, with neither the House of Assembly nor the local governments under his control.
According to him, the only way forward for Fubara is to forge alliances with legislators and council chairmen if he plays his cards well.
He advised Fubara to be wary of off ending 'those who have invested heavily and are looking to recoup.' A political analyst, Aminu Yakudima, also said Fubara cannot function like before in view of the fact that he has no structure.
In a telephone interview with Daily Trust last night, Yakudima said: 'He (Fubara) came to power, but did not work effectively with his predecessor. Now, he cannot run his activities including re-election because he has no structure. Fubara lacks the structure to stand on his own. So, he is in a tight corner.
'The structure he used was that of Nyesom Wike. Unfortunately, he parted ways with Wike and he has seen the consequences. He has paid the price. So, Fubara needs to go back to the drawing board and see how he can settle things with his predecessor. Otherwise, he is going for his final term as governor of Rivers State.'
Dr Asimiyu Olalekan Murana of the Department of Political Science Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, described Fubara's reinstatement as a lifeline and a leash.
'On one hand, he regained his office and survived the threat of impeachment. On the other hand, his political autonomy is severely curtailed. The agreement's no-re-election clause effectively turns him into a lame-duck governor just halfway into his first term. For Fubara personally, this curtails his ability to consolidate power, diminishes his bargaining strength within the PDP, and prematurely ends the trajectory of a political career that could have extended beyond 2027.
'For the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the crisis has been no less damaging. Rivers State has long been one of its strongest bastions, contributing immensely to its national relevance. By acquiescing to a deal that undermined its sitting governor while legitimising defectors, the PDP has weakened its grip over one of its most strategic strongholds. With Fubara barred from re-election, the party faces uncertainty over succession, further compounding its dwindling fortunes at the national level.
'The reinstatement of Governor Fubara is therefore both an opportunity and a warning. It presents a chance to restore democratic governance in Rivers and reaffirms public trust in institutions. Yet, it also exposes the fragility of Nigerian democracy when elite bargains, rather than the people's will, determine political outcomes,' he said.
'The way-out for Fubara'
A professor of Governance, Identity Politics, and Development Communication at the University of Jos, Prof. Ezekiel Adeyi, said despite having Wike's loyalists surrounding the government, it ultimately depends on Fubara to decide whether he has the power to act or his hands are tied
He said: 'In a situation like this, there must be some meetings and horse trading with the presidency. It is left for Fubara to determine who he is. Is he coming back with bold orientation or that discussion they had with the president? Is he coming back to just keep quiet or as a full-time governor? These are the questions to determine whether he is boxed to the corner or his hands are tied.
'You can die with the devil in politics and you succeed. You can live together with a lion and you succeed. For him to succeed, he should understand those he will work with. Again, he must have a blueprint on how he can manoeuvre the House of Assembly and other supporting the party.
'The best way to address issues like this is through good governance by implementing policies that benefit citizens. Pay civil servants their salaries promptly, ensure roads are repaired and maintained, provide adequate security across the state. If he does these things, the masses will support him even if his hands are tied. So, we cannot definitively say his hands are free or tied. He should stand bold, depend on the constitution, use the media effectively and be friendly with his enemies. At the end of the day, he will progress,' Adeyi said.
Another political analyst, Jackson Lekan Ojo, said Fubara has nothing to worry about because he 'is still the governor of Rivers State. He still controls the resources of the state. That is the principal thing. Any other arrangement was illegal'.
Wike hails Tinubu for lifting emergency rule The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, yesterday hailed President Tinubu for lifting the emergency rule in Rivers State.
He said the president had once again demonstrated his total commitment to peace and sustenance of democracy in the country, adding that Tinubu's proactive action saved the state.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said the president's intervention had further restored the confidence of the people of Rivers State in his leadership.
Lessons to learn - APC
Reacting to the development, the APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told Daily Trust that there were lessons to learn from the Rivers emergency rule.
He said: 'It is left for the governor and the people of Rivers State to learn from the lessons. It is also for other states to learn how to play politics and how to have respect for the rule of law.'
Ibrahim further said sanity had been restored in the state. 'The purpose for which the state of emergency was declared has been achieved,' he said.
PDP mum
However, efforts to get the reaction of the PDP did not yield result as party officials, including its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, neither answered several calls nor replied to WhatsApp and text messages sent to their mobile telephone lines for their comments.
Ibas' security aides protest over unpaid allowances
Earlier yesterday, there were reports of security officers attached to the outgoing sole administrator of Rivers State protesting at the Government House demanding payment of their outstanding allowances.
The protesting officers were also captured in a video posted on social media, were they were however persuaded by some senior security officials to be calm pending when Ibas returns from Abuja.
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