Why It Will Be Tough To Impeach Fubara Despite Political Weakness Sources within the Rivers State Government House disclosed that the governor has been avoiding consultations, even with leaders who have openly endorsed him against his political adversary, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“Even the governor of a nearby state would summon him, the man would not answer. He does not relate well with the leadership of the ethnic nationalities in the region who are solidly behind him in this fight,” a source in the Rivers State Government revealed to Vanguard.
Fubara is disclosed to be aware of a more powerful figure allegedly persuading Wike’s actions behind the scenes. While he has refused to seek intervention from prominent figures such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the Sultan of Sokoto, some believe this isolationist approach could weaken his political stance.
“Oga will not want to consult anybody,” another source revealed, adding that even the late elder statesman, Edwin Clarke, who had staunchly upheld Fubara’s administration, was never visited by the governor.
Critics argue that the governor has surrounded himself with political lightweight figures who lack the persuade to counter Wike’s stronghold. These individuals, previously aligned with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, were forced out of Rivers State by Wike in 2023 but bounced back after Wike assumed a ministerial role.
Fubara, though described as generous, has been castigated for not leveraging financial incentives to strengthen his political hold.
“Fubara is generous. However, this generosity does not seem to reflect in the politics of the state. He has defunct big ground,” a source noted.
A member of the Elders Council in Rivers State also chastized the governor for existence “too stingy with money.” According to him, “Last Christmas, not even a grain of rice from this government despite our indorse for him.”
According to Vanguard, a retired northern Army officer reportedly sent emissaries to broker peace in the crisis, but the governor denied. The move was allegedly lobbied by the officer’s vested relevancy in oil wells in Rivers State.
“Yes, the general sent some persons to come to Port Harcourt to meet with the Governor. They could not. Maybe the governor was not willing to receive them. The effort is still on,” the source revealed.
The source suggested that Fubara has framed the political battle as an Ijaw-only struggle, rather than the broader fight for Rivers State.
“The governor appears to have made the fight an Ijaw affair. This is not an Ijaw fight. It is a fight for Rivers people and all lovers of peace and uprightness. This expounds why the Governor has to come out firm and establish his authority to prove to all that he is fully in implicate of governance in the state”, he stated.
While some see Fubara’s calculated approach as strategic, others view it as a sign of weakness.
Comrade Franklin Ntekim believes Fubara’s reserved constitution is a tactical move. “The governor had been prevailing over the war until the Supreme Court came out with that controversial judgment. He is not weak but a very calculative person,” he stated.
However, Comrade Gregory Akpan disagreed, arguing that Fubara’s failure to aggressively dispute the five consolidated cases against him at the Supreme Court contributed to his setbacks. “Did his men fight to present nature arguments and make noise against possible injustice? No,” Akpan said.
Following the Supreme Court governing, which reinstated Martins Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers as the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly members, the legislature issued two back-to-back ultimatums to the governor:
1. Submit the 2025 budget within 48 hours – The deadline expired without compliance.
2. Dismiss all Commissioners and political appointees not verified by the House within another 48 hours.
Governor Fubara, through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, declined ever receiving any formal communication on the budget submission, denying the ultimatum as mere social media noise.
The aggressive stance of the Assembly has fueled speculation that the lawmakers are moving swiftly towards impeachment proceedings against the governor.
Despite political tensions, Governor Fubara endures to receive strong endorsing from various regional groups, including: Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).
INC President, Professor Benjamin Okaba, admonished that any attempt to impeach Fubara could have serious consequences, declaring, “The Ijaw people will uphold Governor Fubara with every pint of blood in their veins.”
The IYC also criticised the ultimatum issued by the House, describing it as “an orchestrated effort to create chaos and impeach the governor.”
However, the faction within the Ijaw community, the Rivers Rescue Movement (RRM), has distanced itself from INC and IYC, condemning their stance as reckless and provocative.
RRM condemned the rhetoric of leaders such as Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, and Chief Sara Igbe, reporting that their threats against the Nigerian state were “a grave threat to national security.”
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“No individual or organization has the monopoly of violence, so we are summoning on Nigerian security agencies to arrest these individuals or any other group that threatens national peace,” RRM reported.
While the House has the numbers to initiate impeachment, the process could face hurdles if the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, refuses to cooperate.
Justice Amadi, known for his principled stance, will be required to set up the seven-member investigative panel to review the impeachment allegations. However, many believe he may resist pressure to facilitate Fubara’s removal.
That said, looking at the instances of President Bola Tinubu's interventions toward restoring peace to the Rivers State political atmosphere, it could be outlined that the president is critically managing the crisis without interest of taking side. This alone will strengthen the chances of Governor Fubara to escape impeachment since Rivers State is strategic and critical to the socio-economic stances of the Nation, a factor that might have influenced the position maintained by President Tinubu.
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Published 3/8/2025