Angers, as Wike-controlled Rivers Assembly embarrasses Gov Fubara, locks him out of legislative complex

By OUR REPORTER, Port Harcourt

He seized the opportunity of the media interview to reply Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, over his shield of Yoruba people from the failure of Tinubu’s government, saying “My brother, Mallam, I will rather than shield the Yoruba people from this crisis tell them this. You have always led the media propaganda when the President was either South South or Fulani man. Your not even being silent but continued defence of and clamouring for a second term for your Tinubu amidst all of these unprecedentedly artificial crisis all over the country for the sake of one man’s political future will have adverse effect on the future of Yoruba race in the marriage called Nigeria. And nobody goes anywhere. Take note.”

What many view as embarrassment of constitutionally recognized authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has happened with drama that ensued at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex on Wednesday.

The DEFENDER reports that this unfortunate development, which has been consrued to be another level of President Bola Tinubu’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s impunity, hiding under recent Supreme Court judgment still baffling many, occured when Governor Fubara arrived at the Assembly Complex but the entrance gate was locked against him.

We gathered that security personnel at the complex locked the gates upon the arrival of the governor’s convoy.

The action of the security personnel was hinged on the position that there was no official communication between the Governor and the Assembly.

However, Fubara said he communicated his coming to Speaker Martins Amaewhule through a letter and tried to call him on the phone since Tuesday March 11, 2025.

Also, the Rivers State Government shared a letter notifying the House of the governor’s visit.

Fubara had said he would fully implement the February 28, 2025 judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to come up with modalities for the fresh election.

The electoral commission fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh local government poll in the state.

Furthermore, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, in a letter dated March 7, 2025, sought a meeting with the lawmakers for March 10, 2025, to discuss the re-presentation of the 2025 budget and a peace talk.

But the Assembly had asked the governor to channel his invitation properly.

In the meantime, observers of Rivers State politics believe that President Bola Tinubu is more culpable in the state’s crisis as they view it as more premised on his 2027 re-election than said.

One of the observers, who spoke in Port Harcourt on Wednesday March 12 on only identify of a taxpayer resident, could not understand how President Tinubu, in his yet another intervention inside the Aso Rock he currently occupies, could apportion blame to Governor Siminalayi Fubara taking side with his Minister, Wike, as he presented the face of the sitting Governor as the face of the crisis during the meeting held in the Council Chamber in State House.

“Does this President really remember how this crisis started? Does he really remember what he called agreement he gave to both his Minister and the governor, which the governor had to sign despite its many controversial areas but said he did in the interest of Rivers State peace? Does President Tinubu remember that it was this same Minister of his cabinet he takes side with who failed to comply?

“I remember vividly that immediately after Governor signed that agreement, Wike, also operating as the face of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, ordered the 27 lawmakers through the state APC chairman to proceed to impeaching the elected governor. Why? Because you want to take 20 percent of resources of state under a government you no longer control. If that was how your predecessors did, Rivers State would not be peaceful and developed as it was under Dr. Peter Odili, who you people are now trying to use EFCC to probe, and under Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

“But what kind of intervention is the President making? You say you will not sit there and watch any part of the country failing in rule of law. But does Mr. President really mean that statement, when he has chosen what aspect he addresses of the Rivers State crisis I believe he either caused or is providing liver to sustain for his own personal political gains?

“Well, my own point that is certain us to assure Wike that everyday is not Christmas and soon, he will form part of the history of Rivers State politics whether on the good side or the bad side,” he said.

He seized the opportunity of the media interview to reply Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, over his shield of Yoruba people from the failure of Tinubu’s government, saying “My brother, Mallam, I will rather than shield the Yoruba people from this crisis tell them this. You have always led the media propaganda when the President was either South South or Fulani man. Your not even being silent but continued defence of and clamouring for a second term for your Tinubu amidst all of these unprecedentedly artificial crisis all over the country for the sake of one man’s political future will have adverse effect on the future of Yoruba race in the marriage called Nigeria. And nobody goes anywhere.

“Take note. Because of your Tinubu there are virtually two emirs in Kano, because of your Tinubu, Sokoto nearly erupted into crisis over Sultanate matters under APC, because of your Tinubu we are here suffering in Rivers State and you know it, Zamfara is not having peace as if this was not the same country governed by President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. Tomorrow today will become yesterday, go and watch it my fellow Nigerian citizens who are backing all of these political evils for sentiment reasons,” he warned those who support the ongoing political crisis in the country on the basis of tribal sentiments.

As for what is happening in Rivers today, he said the Nigerian judiciary will have it’s part of history as making it happen.