Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged his supporters and political associates to stop referring to him as the “leader” of the state’s political class, declaring that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, remains the political leader of Rivers State.
Fubara made the declaration during a gathering of the Rainbow Coalition at Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while reacting to the ongoing debate over who should be regarded as the leader of the Rivers State political family.
The governor said he had been hearing various comments and arguments surrounding the issue of political leadership in the state, stressing that he was not interested in creating another source of disagreement among members of the political family.
According to him, while he could be addressed as an “Oga,” he would not want his supporters to describe him as the political leader of Rivers State.
Fubara reportedly said that, as far as he was concerned, Wike remains the leader of the Rivers political family.
The governor’s remarks come against the backdrop of years of political disagreements and competing claims of influence within the Rivers State political space.
Fubara also used the occasion to emphasize the importance of the reconciliation that has taken place among the various political tendencies in the state.
He said that following the settlement of their differences, members of the political family should avoid statements or actions capable of reopening old wounds.
The governor stressed that they are now operating under the same political umbrella and should therefore concentrate on maintaining unity rather than engaging in arguments over who occupies the position of political leadership.
He urged his supporters to understand that the current political arrangement is based on reconciliation and unity, adding that there should be no fresh issues capable of causing division among them.
The governor’s position is significant given the history of political disagreements between his camp and that of Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023 before his appointment as FCT Minister.
Fubara’s statement appears to be an attempt to draw a line under the controversy surrounding political supremacy in Rivers State and reinforce the message of reconciliation among members of the state’s political establishment.
By publicly acknowledging Wike as the political leader, the governor signalled his preference for maintaining the current political understanding rather than allowing the question of leadership to become another source of confrontation.
He therefore called on his supporters to refrain from addressing him as “Leader,” saying that such descriptions could create unnecessary political tension.
The governor’s remarks are expected to generate considerable discussion within Rivers State political circles, particularly among supporters of the different political blocs that have emerged in the state over the years.
