Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has signalled a major political climbdown, declaring his readiness to work with all members of the State House of Assembly, including newly elected lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC), in what observers see as a strategic move to ease mounting pressure in the state.
The governor’s conciliatory tone comes on the heels of the February 21 bye-elections conducted to fill vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The polls produced Ukalikpe Napoleon as winner of the Ahoada East State Constituency II seat, while Loolo Bulabari Henrietta emerged victorious in Khana State Constituency II.
In a statement, Fubara described their victories as well deserved, noting that the outcomes reflected the confidence reposed in them by their constituents.
“I look forward to working with them and their colleagues in the Rivers State House of Assembly for the progress of our state,” the governor said.
He further commended residents of Ahoada East and Khana constituencies for maintaining peace before, during and after the elections, describing the development as evidence of growing democratic maturity.
Political Undertones Persist
Despite the governor’s reconciliatory posture, the development is widely viewed through the lens of the lingering power struggle between Fubara and his political benefactor-turned-rival, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The crisis, which has polarised the state’s political structure for months, reached a boiling point when the Assembly initiated impeachment moves against the governor.
However, in a dramatic twist on February 19, lawmakers suspended the proceedings, temporarily cooling tensions.
Analysts say Fubara’s latest overture may be aimed at stabilising the political climate and preventing a fresh round of confrontation that could further unsettle governance in the oil-rich state.
Whether this marks genuine reconciliation or a tactical pause in Rivers State’s protracted political chess game remains to be seen.
Credit: Royal News except headline
