Fubara’s supporters kick over Tinubu’s brokered one term deal with Wike

Supporters of the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, have expressed disappointment over the brokered peace where the governor agreed to serve out his remaining term and not seek re-election.

A former Rivers State Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, said what transpired in Abuja was a surrender and not a reconciliation.

The ex-commissioner, quoted by Punch Newspaper, argued that there was no reconciliation because the governor did not go with his supporters

He described the development as vicious, pointing out that Wike had succeeded in cowing the governor to submission.

Nwibubasa stated, “What I see is not reconciliation. What I see is a surrender. In a reconciliation, parties come with their supporters and discussions are made, concessions are made. Where Governor Fubara walked alone to the Presidency without a single of his own supporters, not his deputy, not his Secretary to the State Government, not his Chief of Staff, not his factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and others.

“On the other hand, Wike went with his entire House of Assembly loyalists and elders and you say they went for reconciliation. No, I think Governor Sim was called to surrender and he did.

“And the composition of that visit to Mr President is a story itself and it tells you to what extent these very divisive and vicious Abuja politicians have gone to cow the governor into surrender.”

On the implication for the state, Nwibubasa said it was a return to the trenches.

“What it behoves for Rivers people is clear, that the political structures, economic structures and realm of leadership of Rivers State have returned to the old order,” he added.

A group, the Rivers Emancipation Movement, in a statement on Friday, said the reconciliation was not in the interest of the people of the state.

The body said any resolution that massaged the ego of “a few selfish individuals and undermined the collective interest of Rivers people will not stand.”

The National President of the group, Zoe Tamunotonye, stated that Fubara betrayed people of the state who stood by him by not carrying them along in the process.

The statement partly read, “This development marks the second Abuja-brokered reconciliation attempt. The first failed to yield any meaningful resolution or address the real causes of the political tension that has paralysed governance and destabilised peace in Rivers State.

“REM unequivocally frowns at this so-called reconciliation in its entirety. It is nothing more than a hollow, self-serving political arrangement that prioritises the narrow interests of a few political actors while completely ignoring the collective pain, sacrifices, and aspirations of the Rivers people. This is not reconciliation—it is a calculated collusion that will fail again.”

The group insisted that the truce was built on “falsehood, self-interest, and short-term political convenience,” and hence would not last.

Also, a human rights activist and political commentator, Deji Adeyanju, described the peace deal as fragile.

“Wike has proved time and again that his word holds no weight. The recent reconciliation between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike should not be mistaken for lasting peace,” Adeyanju stated.

Referencing Wike’s past political conduct, Adeyanju said, “From his vow at the PDP convention to abide by the outcome, which he swiftly disregarded, to his betrayal of Dr Peter Odili, a man he once called his political father, and his calculated political attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Wike’s pattern is clear; he honours only his own ambition.”

He warned that the reconciliation should be seen not as a breakthrough, but as a “trap.”

“Governor Fubara must prepare his mind that this reconciliation is a trap, and not a truce. Wike will not only undermine him now but will breach the agreement on purpose,” he said.