Fubara’s political skill has made him specimen for democratic studies in Nigeria, Says Gov Bala Mohammed
By KEMI KASUMU
So of course, his political sagacity has come to a level where he has become a specimen for democratic studies in Nigeria.
As Governor of Rivers, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, initiated what many have described as the beginning of the end of godfatherism in Nigerian politics by his collapsing of Nyesom Wike’s self-styled Emperorship of Rivers State, his Bauchi State counterpart and Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum (GF), Senator Bala Mohammed, has passed a vote of confidence on him.
Governor Mohammed, who was physically present at the swearing in ceremony for the newly elected Local Government Chairmen and Vice Chairmen who emerged from the Saturday’s Council polls, commended Governor Fubara for his proactive and creative leadership.
Emphasising the critical role governors play in Nigeria’s political system, Governor Bala Mohammed noted that governors hold significant power at the subnational level, while the federal government operates within the states.
From the Saturday October 5 elections, opposition Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 of the 23 local government areas in the state, while the Action Alliance (AA) won one local government.
Mohammed praised Fubara for allowing opposition parties to win, even when his own party faced a loss, demonstrating deep democratic instincts.
He urged the newly elected leaders to support Fubara, highlighting his political acumen. Mohammed compared Fubara’s situation to his own experience in 2019, emphasizing the governor’s leadership as a model for democratic governance in Nigeria.
He said in a live coverage by Symfoni, “You cannot just ignore a governor; a governor is the chief executive; he can do anything; he can spring surprises because the Nigerian state is run by Governors at the subnational level.
Even the federal government is a tenant; Nigerians live in the states and in local governments. And that’s why what he did, to me, is very proactive and creative irrespective of the fact that he knew his party would lose certainly because of his deep democratic instincts, he had to allow the other parties to win.
“And I would just wish that those who have won will find it in their own modesty to give him support because he’s not doing it with any string or asking them to do anything. Let him and the APP have that relationship so that he can govern as a person.
“I had a similar situation in 2019; I govern a state where only nine are members in the assembly, and he’s still doing that. So of course, his political sagacity has come to a level where he has become a specimen for democratic studies in Nigeria.”
