Segun Showunmi has criticised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the ongoing political crisis involving his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Speaking during an interview, Showunmi argued that the governor started a political fight without having the strength or support to sustain it.
According to him, politics requires strategy, numbers, and the ability to manage key institutions like the State House of Assembly. He noted that many governors in Fubara’s political circle know how to work with their assemblies, even during disagreements. In his view, Fubara failed to do this and instead walked into a conflict he was not prepared for.
Showunmi also pointed out that during earlier crises, Fubara received help from powerful figures, including the president and other political actors. He questioned whether the governor could stand on his own without constant rescue, warning that leadership requires independence and resilience.
Using past political battles in Rivers State as examples, Showunmi argued that strong politicians survive because they understand power, alliances, and reconciliation. He stressed that reconciliation is always an option in politics, even when situations seem tense, and that a governor must actively seek common ground rather than complain.
He concluded by saying that Fubara often presents himself as the only innocent person in the crisis, while blaming others. In his opinion, this is a deliberate strategy, describing the governor as someone who has perfected the role of a victim, a narrative he said he does not believe.
In his words, “It’s always easy for you to say that everybody’s guilty but him. I think the guy has mastered the art of playing the victim, but I’m not fooled.”
