Who Will Tell Wike That Fubara Is A Democratically Elected Governor, Not Political Appointee

ISAAC ASABOR

The latest outburst from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, should worry every Nigerian who still holds democracy dear. In his own words, Wike said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State was “gone,” boasting that he had wanted him removed from office and thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for saving the situation by suspending the governor and declaring an emergency rule.

These statements are not only reckless, they are an egregious affront to democracy, a slap to the face of every Rivers voter, and an insult to the very idea of constitutional governance. Wike, by every appearance, is trying to play god over the affairs of a state he no longer governs. And that cannot, and must not, stand.

Let’s start with the basics: Siminalayi Fubara was elected, not selected. He was not plucked from obscurity to serve as a proxy governor. He was voted into power by the people of Rivers State, who trusted him enough to hand him the keys to the state’s affairs. He received his mandate through the ballot box, not from a political godfather. Therefore, any attempt, rhetorical or practical, to delegitimize his tenure is a direct assault on the people’s will.

Wike’s assertion that he “wanted Fubara gone” and that the president did Rivers people a favour by suspending him reeks of tyranny. In a sane democracy, such remarks would trigger calls for investigation, not applause. If Wike, a minister of the Federal Republic, can so brazenly admit to engineering the removal of a sitting governor, then what separates Nigeria from a banana republic?

Let’s not forget: Wike is a product of the democratic process. He served as governor for eight years, two full terms. During those years, he enjoyed the privileges and immunity of the office, even amid criticisms of his own highhandedness. Yet, the people of Rivers State endured him and respected the office he occupied. Now, as soon as he vacates that office, he turns around and seeks to lord over his successor as though governance is a family inheritance.

The democratic process is not a relay race where one passes the baton only to shadow the runner and trip him mid-track. No. Once your time is up, you step aside and allow your successor to govern, whether he chooses to follow your legacy or not. Wike had his time; Fubara is having his. That’s the natural, democratic order of things.

But what we’ve seen in Rivers is nothing short of a political ambush. As soon as Fubara dared to exercise independence, Wike and his loyalists began a campaign of sabotage. From scheming through the House of Assembly to orchestrating threats of impeachment to fostering chaos in local governance, Wike has tried to turn Rivers State into a personal fiefdom, one that must be ruled from Abuja.

And now, to add insult to injury, he praises President Tinubu for declaring an unconstitutional emergency rule and suspending not only the governor but also his deputy and the entire state legislature. For context, Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution is clear: the president cannot unilaterally suspend a governor or dissolve state institutions. Any declaration of emergency must follow due process, it must be presented to the National Assembly and must meet the threshold of an actual breakdown of law and order.

The so-called “state of emergency” in Rivers, declared in March 2025, was clearly a political move dressed in constitutional garb. It was designed not to save the state, but to clip the wings of a governor who refused to kowtow to his predecessor. And Wike, in his own words, has validated that assumption. He said, “The governor was gone. Yes, he was gone,” and added that Rivers people should be grateful to Tinubu. In fact, he went as far as saying they should “wash the president’s feet.”

That statement alone tells you the mentality of Nigeria’s political elite. They don’t see power as something derived from the people; they see it as a privilege handed down by the president or controlled by godfathers like Wike.

They must stand up and remind Wike that they, not Tinubu and certainly not Wike, gave Fubara the mandate. And unless the courts say otherwise, he remains the legitimate governor of Rivers State. The idea that a sitting governor can be “suspended” based on political disagreements is not only unconstitutional, it is criminal.

To reduce a governor’s mandate to a political favour is to tell Nigerians that their votes do not count. It is to delegitimize the electoral process and make a mockery of democracy. It is to say that unless a governor plays puppet, his tenure will be truncated, by hook or crook.

Wike’s behaviour is a classic case of political overreach. He has gone from being a former governor to a federal minister, but he has refused to relinquish control over Rivers State. He continues to act as if the levers of government in Port Harcourt still run through his hands. And sadly, those around him, in the corridors of power, are enabling this dangerous game.

If democracy must survive in Nigeria, we must do away with this culture of political godfatherism. We must respect the sanctity of the ballot and defend the independence of elected officials. A governor is not answerable to his predecessor. He is answerable to the people who voted him in. That’s the principle we must uphold.

What Wike is doing, and what Tinubu’s administration has allowed to fester, is not only dangerous but contagious. If this type of political interference is allowed to continue in Rivers, it could easily spread to other states. Tomorrow, it may be Enugu, Benue, or Zamfara. The disease of political meddling is contagious, and if unchecked, it will eat deep into the fabric of our democracy.

The people of Rivers State deserve peace. They deserve a governor who is allowed to govern. They deserve institutions that are not puppets of Abuja or minions of retired political emperors.

And to Wike,  let it be known: you are no more the governor of Rivers State. You had your opportunity. You served. You may not like Fubara’s style, you may disagree with his decisions, but you must accept that he is no longer under your political tutelage. Democracy does not revolve around your approval.

Stop insulting the people who voted. Stop undermining the very system that gave you relevance. And above all, stop acting like Rivers State is your personal property.

Fubara may have his flaws, as every politician does, but his right to govern is not up for debate. He was elected. And that is all that matters.