The political crisis in Rivers State escalated dramatically on Wednesday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara was denied access to the official quarters of the state House of Assembly along Aba Road, Port Harcourt. This move marks the latest chapter in an ongoing power struggle between the governor and lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Arriving at the assembly complex with top government officials including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, and his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, Fubara was met with a locked gate. The message was clear: entry was not an option.
Addressing journalists at the scene, a visibly frustrated Fubara accused Speaker Martins Amaewhule of deliberately avoiding him. “Before my arrival here, I made several attempts to speak to the Speaker. I also sent a letter for this particular invitation,” he explained. “Unfortunately, at the gate, you can see the place is completely sealed, and there is no sign that anything is going to happen today.”
Despite the setback, the governor remained resolute, insisting his efforts were in the best interest of the people of Rivers State. “The reason why we are doing this, I have always said, is in the interest of our people, which is the most important thing. I expect to hear from them after today.”
But the tension didn’t end there.
In Abuja, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike didn’t mince words when addressing Fubara’s approach. Wike, Fubara’s predecessor and now his most vocal critic, dismissed the governor’s attempts to reach out to the House of Assembly as “useless.”
“You have had a frosty relationship with an arm of government,” Wike told journalists. “If you are a good politician, will you go and write a letter? What an insult! Is it how it is done? You want to play at the gallery — which is rubbish. All these letters are useless. You are not sincere. You are playing to the gallery.”
Wike argued that Fubara should have handled the situation more diplomatically by calling Speaker Amaewhule directly. “The lawmakers are not your subordinates; they deserve respect,” he added.
The backdrop to this political standoff lies in the Supreme Court’s February 28 ruling on Rivers State’s volatile political situation. A five-member panel led by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye rejected Fubara’s appeal, affirming the legitimacy of the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. The court also imposed financial restrictions on the Rivers State Government, barring the Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions from releasing funds to the state. The decision came after the court ruled that the local government elections held on October 5, 2024, were invalid.
In response to the court’s verdict, Fubara pledged compliance and instructed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to organize fresh elections, now scheduled for August 9, 2025. Seeking to mend fences and move forward, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, sent a letter requesting a meeting with the Assembly on March 10 to discuss the 2025 budget and efforts to restore peace.
But for Wike, peace remains conditional. “What is peace? What is more important than letting the right thing be done?” he asked. “When the right thing is done, there will be peace. But if the right thing is not done, how can you talk about peace? Go present the budget; go submit the list of the commissioners.”
As Rivers State stands at this political crossroads, the path forward remains uncertain. With locked gates, unanswered calls, and heated words dominating the landscape, the question on everyone’s mind is: can true reconciliation happen when both sides remain so firmly entrenched?
