The Unravelling Of Nyesom Wike’s Political Dynasty

By Michael Chibuzo

Rivers State, an oil-rich state along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean is a very intriguing state not necessarily because of its diverse topography or the multitude of rivers that traverse the state, which earned it the name Rivers. It is intriguing because of its politics. When states with less than straightforward political climate are mentioned, Rivers is a sure candidate for the top spot alongside Kano.

Since the start of the fourth Republic, Rivers State has had five governors with Celestine Omehia lasting just few months. Despite being a one-party state until recently, Rivers State have always witnessed a fierce power struggle within the ruling party in the state, which often pitch erstwhile political allies against one another. These battles for supremacy often times become bloody due to the use of thugs and cultists by these political actors.

The last round of such fierce political battles was witnessed between former Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his successor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike which saw the state turned into a River of blood at a time especially during electoral seasons. Wike for 8 years seemed to have had the upper hand in his political wrestling with Amaechi whom he served as Chief of Staff. The Amaechi vs Wike WWE ended in anti-climax on May 29, 2023 when Wike effortlessly foisted his anointed successor, Sim Fubara as Governor of Rivers State.

Shortly after the Sim coronation, Nyesom Wike was made Minister to administer the Federal Capital Territory by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu even while he is still a PDP member. It appeared as if the Wike dynasty was now fully entrenched and unbreakable. At the state level he had his handpicked successor surrounded by majority of his former Commissioners and a State House of Assembly he personally selected. At the federal level he is also occupying the only ministerial seat that wields a state-like executive power. Nyesom Wike felt calm all around.

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Alas, the calmness was the calm before a major tropical storm. Just few months into the Wike Dynasty, major cracks emerged in his political foundation with his successor, Sim Fubara mounting an audacious rebellion which has led to open declaration of war. The remote cause(s) of this civil war between godfather and godson may be unknown but a structural analysis of the now-faulty political foundation can reveal so many probable causes.

Firstly, by the way Wike crafted the governance structure around Sim Fubara, it was designed to give Sim close marking and ensure Wike’s legacy continues. A lot of Wike’s former Commissioners were reappointed to serve in Sim’s cabinet including his former Chief of Staff, Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General, Works Commissioner, Education Commissioner, Sports Commissioner, Social Welfare Commissioner among others. In fact the first four (4) of such Commissioners were submitted to the 9th Assembly by Gov. Fubara on the day of his inauguration and sworn in the shortly after their confirmation the next day.

Also, as the handpicked successor of Wike, Fubara did not really know how his election was won for him and I am sure he never really bothered. It was the understanding that being in the same political family of the former governor and his benefactor, Fubara was supposed to inherit the political battles and enemies of Nyesom Wike especially, Atiku Abubakar. It was rumoured that Gov. Fubara reached an understanding with Wike not to fund the PDP at the national level unless at the direction of Wike.

Naturally, Gov. Sim Fubara felt like a governor in a cage or an apprentice looking after the shop of his master. Unfortunately for the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, his ‘humble-looking’ and quiet successor had other ideas in his head. He must have reneged on some agreements or understandings he had with Wike, which prompted Wike to rather quickly and perhaps unwisely activate the impeachment option immediately.

This was the whistle that signaled the open battle of supremacy between Wike FC and Sim FC.

The Governor moved ruthlessly to neutralise the impeachment moves and succeeded. He started his consolidation of power by first recruiting his own loyalists in the State Assembly. He has been able to get at least four members to his side and made one the Speaker. Nyesom Wike handed the Fubara camp a free assist when 27 lawmakers loyal to him decamped to the APC few days ago. Sim moved swiftly to score against his former Boss by demolishing the House of Assembly complex and moving the Assembly to the fortress of the Government House.

The governor then got his factional Speaker to declare the seats of the pro-Wike lawmakers vacant and then presented the 2024 Appropriation bill of over N800 billion to the 4-member House of Assembly for consideration and passage. Within 24 hours, the Appropriation bill passed first reading, second reading and third reading. Of course there are no standing committees to invite ministries, departments and agencies to come and defend their budget. Therefore, the 4-member Assembly passed the Appropriation Bill and forwarded to Gov. Sim Fubara who signed the bill into law the next day!

Now, that the battle lines have been drawn, the war will obviously shift to the law courts. The outcomes of the many litigations that will definitely be fought at the court will determine who wins the first half of the political match in Rivers. If the Supreme Court recognises the pro-Wike Assembly as the valid State House of Assembly then, it is advantage Wike. If on the other hand, the Supreme Court sacks the pro-Wike lawmakers for defecting to the APC then Fubara comes on top in the first half of the match.

The gale of resignations by many Commissioners loyal to Nyesom Wike in the past 24 hours is just a natural house cleansing by Gov. Fubara as he attempts to remould his cabinet after his own image. He is consolidating executive power and will go after any pro-Wike government appointed official in his government. By virtue of being in charge of the finances of Rivers State, Sim Fubara will definitely mobilise his own ‘loyal’ base ahead of the second half of the match in the event that he wins the first half of legalising his control of the State Assembly.

The second half is basically 2027. The Governor and the FCT Minister are already on election footing. While the Governor is bent on hijacking the structure of the Rivers PDP from Wike using the enormous war chest of the Rivers State treasury, Nyesom Wike on his part is already making plans for his base by directing them to decamp to the APC as he attempts to commandeer the APC ship in Rivers State from the loose grip of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. Wike may likely decamp to the APC much later in the match especially after the 2026 primaries. If that happens, the state will witness a reincarnation of the epic battle between a federal Minister in the ruling party, APC and an opposition governor that played out between then Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike.

Wike came on top then. This is down to the fact that he was in control of the Rivers treasury and never shied away from utilising its might. He was also a brutal political operator that uses every means available to him including recruiting fifth columnists in APC to cripple Amaechi and the APC. Now, the table appears to be turning with Wike now as federal Minister and battling a PDP governor with control over the Rivers State purse. How will he fare this time around? If history is to be a guide, then there is a chance of Wike upsetting the scale and winning the war eventually.

As Minister of Education under President Jonathan, Nyesom Wike mobilised federal might to defeat the candidate of the APC in the 2015 Rivers governorship election even when the then incumbent Governor, Rotimi Amaechi was in APC and his party just won a historic presidential election. Of course the dynamics have changed since then but Wike still commands a lot of significant political support. Most of the NASS members from Rivers State are still loyal to him for now. Also tribalism will eventually come to play and if the performance of Gov. Sim Fubara is perceived to be below par by the people, it will strengthen the position of Nyesom Wike as he attempts to obliterate his erstwhile political godson from Rivers politics.

In the end, the greatest casualties in this unfortunate battle of godfather and godson in Rivers State are the people of the state and of course democracy and responsible governance. Already, Gov. Sim in trying to fight for survival is already making mockery of democracy and rule of law to the applause of the PDP and many other so-called “defenders of democracy”. They see nothing wrong in the methods employed by Sim Fubara who has basically kidnapped the State House of Assembly and kept them in the Government House after demolishing their home. As the days unfold, the Rivers political animal farm will continue to unravel, sadly to the detriment of the Rivers people.