An elder statesman in Rivers State, Kingsley Wenenda Wali, has called on residents to remain calm amid the renewed political tension between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Wali described the disagreement as a normal political development, stressing that power struggles are common in democratic settings, especially when former allies fall out over control and influence.
Speaking in a statement on Friday, the Rivers elder noted that the rift between Fubara and Wike stems from a deeper contest over power between two political actors who once worked together but are now divided over the terms of their partnership.
According to him, the disagreement should not be interpreted as a failure of governance in Rivers State. However, he expressed concern over the undisclosed agreement allegedly reached by both leaders ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
“The situation is purely political, and people should not get too caught up in the drama. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike had an agreement. My concern is that neither of them has come forward to tell the public exactly what they agreed upon,” Wali said.
He argued that the continued secrecy surrounding the agreement is preventing Rivers residents from fully understanding the origin of the crisis and forming an objective opinion on who may have breached the deal.
“If we knew what they agreed upon, we could better understand the disagreement. I am not part of their discussions, and I am not in a position to make definitive claims about what happened between them,” he added.
Wali further warned that it is unfair for any political actor to abandon an agreement and still expect public sympathy.
“If the agreement does not serve the interests of the people, the party that backed out must be honest enough to admit it and take corrective steps,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons with former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who openly admitted flaws in the election that brought him to power, Wali criticised attempts to portray Governor Fubara as entirely blameless. He described it as hypocritical for anyone to benefit from the excesses of a political process and later claim moral superiority.
He recalled how supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly prevented Tonye Cole, the APC governorship candidate in 2023, from obtaining certified election materials to pursue his legal challenge.
“You can’t benefit from fraud and expect me to call you an angel. After the election, people camped at INEC to stop Tonye Cole from getting verified documents. You benefited from that process and now want to appear innocent — that is not honest,” Wali said.
He urged Rivers people to critically assess events before and after the election and consider whether such actions truly align with the long-term interests of the state.
Wali also observed that political oppression and mismanagement are not new in Rivers State, noting that residents have, over time, become accustomed to such crises. He expressed confidence that the rift between Fubara and Wike would eventually be resolved, describing it as a political disagreement rather than a crisis capable of dividing the state.
His appeal for calm, transparency and unity comes at a time of rising political tension in Rivers State, with many hoping that dialogue and openness will lead to a peaceful resolution.