Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has decided to stay neutral amid the dispute between the current governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Amaechi said he will not give his support to either Governor Fubara or Wike, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), amid the current political crisis in Rivers State.
He made this statement on Friday during his visit to a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Okorinama West, at his private residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers.
The former Minister of Transportation also spoke about the political situation in the state, lamenting that some politicians who were his supporters had decided to switch allegiance due to personal interests.
Speaking further, Amaechi encouraged young supporters to take an active role in shaping the leadership of Rivers State.
“I can’t stand and join either Sim or Wike. I will not join Sim; I will not join Wike,” the former governor said.
“But don’t forget that the two are not big without you people, I hope you know that.”
On the rift between Fubara and Wike, Amaechi said the popularity the incumbent governor appears to have is a result of his public backlash against Wike.
“What Sim thinks is popularity today is because he is anti-Wike. That’s his popularity, not that Sim is the best man on earth. It’s because he is anti-Wike and because the state is tired of Wike,” Amaechi said.
Fubara last month declared that the enemies of Rivers State have already been defeated, insisting there’s no need to disrupt the peace.
He said what his detractors thought they would have done to his government, which just celebrated its first anniversary in office, has turned to fight them.
“They are the ones sleeping with their two eyes open. It shows that we have the Ijaw blood. And what is that blood: it is the blood of action; less talk, more action,” Fubara said.
The governor’s reaction may have followed the gale of resignations from commissioners and the sacking of the 27 lawmakers who are all loyal to Wike.
Earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu waded into the feud between Governor Fubara and Wike.
Fubara thereafter said he was willing and ready to give up his office for peace to reign in Rivers State because no sacrifice will be too big to achieve that.
The trouble between Fubara and Wike is well-documented, with the battle almost leading to the proposed impeachment of the former. (Guardian)
