Kenneth Okonkwo has shared his views on the political situation in Rivers State following Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s move to the APC. In a video shared by SYMFONI TV, according to him, the struggle for control in the state is shaped by trust issues and power calculations involving President Bola Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Fubara.
Okonkwo explained that President Tinubu and Wike do not fully trust each other. At the beginning, Wike believed he could rely on Tinubu, and this belief influenced major political decisions, including the defection of many Rivers State House of Assembly members to the APC. However, as time passed, Wike began to notice signs that made him uncomfortable. Because of this, not all lawmakers followed the APC move. While some defected, others stayed back as a form of political backup in case things changed.
He also pointed out that Wike’s current position has weakened his influence. As a political appointee at the federal level, Wike does not have the same power as an elected official. This makes his bargaining strength limited. If serious disagreements arise, he could easily be sidelined because his position depends on the president.
On the other hand, Governor Fubara, being an elected leader, holds a stronger position within the state. Okonkwo believes that Tinubu prefers a situation where no single individual becomes too powerful in Rivers State. To achieve this, the president may balance both sides by using Fubara to check Wike’s influence and Wike to limit Fubara’s dominance.
In his words, “Tinubu doesn’t trust Wike, Wike doesn’t trust Tinubu. At the initial stage, Wike thought he could trust Tinubu.”
If you love political news or like to get more news happening around the globe, use the button below to get more verified news happening around Nigeria and the world today.
Leave a Reply