Political commentator and former BBC correspondent Donu Kogbara has described the political retreat of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a humiliating defeat that ultimately strengthens the influence of former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking during a televised political discussion on the crisis in Rivers State, Kogbara argued that Wike had accurately judged Fubara’s political character from the beginning when he selected him as successor in 2022. According to her, the unfolding developments have now proven Wike’s calculations right.
“Wike wins because he judged Fubara’s character right and Fubara has been completely humiliated,” Kogbara said while reacting to Fubara’s reported withdrawal from the escalating political confrontation in the state.
She described the governor’s action as “the complete surrender of a very weak man,” insisting that Wike always intended either to maintain total control over Fubara’s administration or remove him politically if he resisted.
According to Kogbara:
“From the very beginning, Wike appeared convinced that Fubara would eventually back down under pressure. What we are seeing now suggests that he understood the governor’s temperament and political limitations very well.”
The former BBC correspondent argued that the political crisis in Rivers State has exposed the intense power struggle that often exists between former governors and their successors in Nigerian politics.
She stated that many political godfathers expect complete loyalty from those they help into office and often react strongly when they feel challenged or sidelined.
Speaking further, Kogbara said:
“This situation reflects a deeper problem in Nigerian politics where successors are sometimes expected to remain permanently subordinate to their predecessors instead of governing independently.”
According to her, the latest developments have significantly weakened Governor Fubara’s political standing both within Rivers State and in the wider national political space.
She added:
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