In a stunning political development, sources have confirmed that a covert maneuver orchestrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Nyesom Wike led to the mobilization of key senators by Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a bid to remove Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This unprecedented political alliance reveals the complex dynamics of Nigerian politics, where alliances are forged and broken behind closed doors. According to well-placed sources, Tinubu, Wike, and Akpabio are the key figures in a power play aimed at unseating Fubara, a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape in Rivers State and beyond.
Sources reveal that President Tinubu, seeking to strengthen his control over political structures in the Niger Delta, sought Wike’s assistance in pressuring Fubara. Wike, a powerful political figure in the region and a former ally of Fubara, has been reportedly dissatisfied with the governor’s administration and his handling of state matters. This led to a conversation between the two men, which ultimately involved Akpabio—who, as Senate President, has substantial influence over the National Assembly’s political direction.
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and a key ally of the federal government, was said to have been instrumental in galvanizing support from influential senators. These senators, primarily from the opposition, have reportedly been drawn into this complex web of political maneuvering, with promises of further federal support and possible political rewards if they back the call for Fubara’s removal.
Insiders claim that the collaboration between Wike and Akpabio was driven by strategic interests: for Wike, the removal of Fubara could consolidate his political legacy in Rivers State and affirm his influence in the region; for Akpabio, it is seen as a way to align himself more closely with the executive while reinforcing his political dominance in the Senate.
The move has raised eyebrows across political circles, with many questioning the legitimacy of the efforts to remove Fubara. Supporters of the governor argue that this is a politically motivated attack, while critics contend that Fubara’s leadership has been marked by inefficiency and a lack of vision for the state.