Fear of Wike? Rivers guber space empty as aspirants wait on FCT Minister’s move

The fear is so palpable that even to discuss names of those aspiring to be next governor is difficult. Most public analysts that were approached waved the question away.

Two schools of thought, however, seem to rule the state; one is that mentioning other guber figures would amount to admitting that the sitting governor has finally lost out in the re-election battle and repositioning. Another is that anybody mentioned when FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has not spoken would end up destroying such a name.

Apart from Tonye Cole seen as Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi ally who has always made his intentions clear in the past many years, only one person from the Ogoni axis, one Douglas Fabeke, not known to most persons, has raised his finger on African Alliance (AA).

There are two big political parties that have ever produced a governor: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which has been ruling the state since 1999 before crisis between Amaechi and his godson, Wike, divided the state and allowed All Progressives Congress (APC) to have higher numbers and a defected governor (Sim Fubara). The state’s House of Assembly is also now dominated by the APC on account of defections.

On those expected to fight for the guber ticket in the coming months, no respondent was ready to speak up on the matter. The only person, Ibim Tamuno, who responded, said: “They are waiting for Wike to anoint his choice. He is in charge, unfortunately. There appears to be no political strong men in Rivers State anymore.”

He did not say why nobody wants to go against Wike in the guber race but the ex-governor records over the years where he used in-plants in parties and the courts to knock out all other parties and candidates until his choice emerges winner seem to scare away contestants.

Most persons say they are waiting for Amaechi’s anointed person (Cole or a new person) to know who would square up against Wike’s eventual choice. Otherwise, they said, there is nothing to analyse.

This was made clearer by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director, YEAC Nigeria, and a robust public affairs analyst in the Niger Delta. In an interview, he said there is silence in Rivers State.

He went on: “Those that may jostle for governorship in 2027 in other states are already known, but in Rivers State, there is silence. This is because of what happened in 2023. There was silence until Fubara was anointed by the then outgoing governor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the FCT Minister.”

He explained the silence, and said it is because they (aspirants) were all looking to the FCT, lobbying, working underground to win his nod. “This is because the two major parties in Rivers State (PDP and APC) are now under the control of the FCT Minister. Those interested do not want to come out and show themselves when they have not got the nod of the FCT Minister.”

Fyneface went on: “In the Action Alliance (AA), however, we hear in the Ogoni area that Dr Douglas Fabake has indicated interest to run. That is the only person we have heard about.”

He referred to 2023 and said: “Those who came out on their own like Farrah Dagogo were framed up, arrested, and detained. Many think that would be the same pattern this time around.

“Anybody anointed will be the one to buy form and begin to campaign.”

He said a major issue is whether Governor Fubara will run or not. He said this has blocked anybody that wished him well to come out and jostle ahead of the governor.

He said if Fubara is cleared to run, it would be clear before others show their heads. He said: “Tonye Cole (APC) is going to run, but the governor is already sitting there in the APC. Things will get clear when the fate of the governor is decided.”

For now, according to analysts, until the fate of Gov Fubara is decided, and until Wike unveils his choice, no sane persons would take the stage.