Fubara will contest Rivers gov’ship poll – Ex-Wike’s aide

There are strong indications that Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, will seek re-election in 2027, according to Opunabo Inko-Tariah, former Aide of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Fubara and Wike, his godfather, have been embroiled in a political tussle that was only recently resolved by President Bola Tinubu after a six-month emergency rule.

Recently, friends of the governor purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms for him, sparking comments about his intention to seek re-election.

In spite of Wike’s avowed determination to ensure the governor is not re-elected, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, former Special Adviser Wike, told BusinessDay in Port Harcourt that Fubara would contest.

Inko-Tariah insisted: “The governor is definitely contesting. He is. He has not said he’s not contesting. He did not reject the forms. He would have come out openly to say, I reject the form, I’m not contesting. But, he has not done so, and what does silence mean? Consent.

“So, it’s obvious that he’s contesting. But you see, the governor is not somebody that is garrulous. He keeps a lot to his chest. He believes in action than words. And I believe that at the appropriate time he is going to address a press conference because the primaries or whatever are just by the corner.

“So, very soon he’s going to address the press, but I have a certain convinction even though I haven’t talked with him on that matter, I have a certain convinction that he’s contesting because he was not angry that the expression of interest forms were bought for him. Also, he did not reject the forms, so what does that mean?”

Inko-Tariah said Fubara enjoys enormous support among Rivers people in spite of his tag of stinginess and that the governor would defeat anybody, including Wike anyday in a free and fair election.

“If, like I said earlier, in a free and fair election, the governor will win any candidate that is fielded. Any candidate. Even if Wike himself comes out to contest today against the governor, he’s going to lose.

“He has the organic support. I must be honest with you. In fact, many people are angry with him that he doesn’t even spend money. Thank God you’re in Rivers State. You can go round and ask questions. They’ll tell you the governor is stingy. So, the support he has is organic,” he explained.

The civil rights advocate attributed Fubara’s organic to what described as Wike’s military-style leadership, as the people see the governor as a breath of fresh air.

“And, it is as a result of the leadership, the kind of leadership we had in Wike. Rivers persons were fixated. It was like a military rule. Even when he was a governor, if you remember the executive orders just to frustrate opponents.

“So, it was a breath of fresh air. Many people were against the governor initially when he came because they saw him as Wike’s stooge that would continue with Wike’s style of leadership.

“But, when they saw the change, that he was quite different, not that he did anything specifically, particularly for certain persons, and they are blowing his trumpet,” he said.

Inko-Tariah predicted a peaceful election in Rivers State, but warned of crisis once Wike’s loyalists discovered that Fubara was coasting to victory during the election.

He stated, “So, I can tell you that the elections will be peaceful, but when they realize that the governor is coasting to victory, they might want to orchestrate crisis, they might want to orchestrate crisis.”(BusinessDay)