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By: David E. Oguzierem
Rivers State today looks like a state under siege. A place once known for political depth, confidence, and institutional strength has been dragged into prolonged instability and needless confrontation. The crisis in Rivers has not merely dented our reputation; it has diminished it in the eyes of Nigerians and serious observers of governance.
No other state in Nigeria is currently trapped in this level of internal sabotage, elite rivalry, and political vandalism. What is unfolding is no longer politics in the democratic sense; it is ego-driven, scorched-earth warfare with Rivers State as collateral damage.
In my considered view, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has done more harm than good to Rivers State and its people.
Whatever national stature or legacy he seeks to build in Abuja, the imprint he left behind in Rivers is deeply troubling. His actions have projected Rivers people as helpless, disorderly, and incapable of self-determination—as though a whole state cannot think, choose, or govern itself without one man’s approval. That narrative is not only false; it is insulting and dangerous.
I am not obsessed with who becomes governor of Rivers State in 2027. Power will change hands, as it always does. But one thing is non-negotiable—it must not return to one-man dominance. Rivers State deserves a leader who understands that leadership is service, not control; partnership, not servitude; independence, not political bondage.
Until that future is secured, the struggle continues.
Some commentators keep insisting that the FCT Minister is “winning” against his former protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. My question is simple: winning at whose expense?
Is Rivers State better today because of this conflict?
Are our roads suddenly smoother?
Are salaries higher or more regular?
Are investors rushing in?
Are our people safer, happier, or more hopeful?
Or is this a personal score being settled on the back of collective pain?
So how exactly is anyone winning?
Between 2015 and 2023, when he was governor, the former governor exercised authority without seeking permission from anyone. He was the alter ego. His words were final. But today, the reality is different. Decisions now require federal leverage and presidential mediation. Both Wike and Fubara must appeal to Abuja, before moving forward. That single fact tells the entire story: absolute control is gone. Woke has lost the state. Tinibu is in charge. Tinibu owns Rivers State.
I acknowledge and commend Governor Fubara—not because he is flawless, but because he has displayed uncommon restraint under sustained provocation, pressure, and public humiliation.
In a political environment where insults often escalate into violence, Fubara chose calm. Where others would burn institutions to the ground, he chose patience. Where brute force was expected, he exercised discipline. That distinction matters.
Let us stop pretending. The evidence is clear. The era of politics dominated by fear, godfatherism, and endless confrontation has harmed Rivers State. The outcomes are visible –
– Persistent political tension
– Governance slowed by conflict
– Institutions weakened by loyalty tests
– Investors discouraged by instability.
– Public discourse reduced to intimidation.
These are not indicators of progress; they are symptoms of decline.
Governor Fubara did not arrive as a rebel. He came quietly, underestimated, cautious. But history often moves that way.
Rivers State has lived too long under the shadow of one-man dominance, and whether people like it or not, that era is cracking.
I will stand with Governor Fubara.
If he is impeached today, I will stand with him.
If he is denied a second-term ticket, I will stand with him.
If he secures a second term, I will stand with him.
My greatest relief is this – the chapter of Wike as governor of Rivers State is permanently closed. That door is shut—locked by time, circumstance, and political reality. He will not return.
He is not defeating Rivers State. Rivers State has resisted him.
He is not winning against Fubara. For nearly three years—through pressure, threats, and political blackmail—he has failed to remove him, and he will not succeed.
Even if Governor Fubara were somehow stopped, Rivers people will never surrender their political will to a godfather again.
If Senator Magnus Abe becomes governor, Rivers people will relate to him on his own terms—not through external control.
If Boma Iyaye becomes governor, Rivers people will engage him directly.
If Senator Allwell Onyesoh emerges, loyalty will be to the office, not a sponsor.
If George Kelly governs, Rivers people will work with him as governor of Rivers State—not as an agent of anyone.
Even if Martins Amaewhule were to assume office as governor, political survival would demand independence, and Rivers people would support that independence.
The truth is simple – the leadership style associated with the FCT Minister is destructive to Rivers State’s stability, and the people will continue to resist it—regardless of who is presented as a proxy.
This is no longer about one man versus another.
It is about a state reclaiming its dignity, its institutions, and its soul.
David E. Oguzierem
Convener, Fubara Continuity Project (FCP)
08133034594 | 07031200894
FUBARA CONTINUITY PROJECT (FCP)
The Fubara Continuity Project (FCP) is a grassroots second-term mobilization network committed to securing the re-election of Sir Siminalayi Fubara. If you are passionate about Rivers State and ready to serve as a Leader or Coordinator in your LGA or Ward, this is your call to action.
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