Rufai Oseni, anchor of Arise Television’s Morning Show, has said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has become the dominant force in Rivers State politics.
The comment comes on the heels of Governor Siminalayi Fubara withdrawing his participation from the All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial primary.
Speaking on the TV’s programme on Thursday, Oseni described the political situation in the state as a “shame on democracy” alleging that one person now influences two political parties.
He said the development had exposed the reason Wike picked Fubara as governor in 2023.
Oseni also questioned Fubara’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying it did not bring the political consolidation he may have been expecting.
The broadcaster said Wike now appears able to hold political structures across party lines, noting that the former Rivers governor has emerged as the kingmaker in deciding who becomes the next governor of the state.
However, Oseni questioned the sustainability of such political dominance, warning that allowing one person to have too much power could threaten democratic development.
Oseni said: “What do I say about Rivers? That’s a shame on our democracy. Rivers is now two-factor authentication.
“A man has the collabo right, two political parties joined together, and the man feels like he’s God today.
“Anyway, for Fubara, you have now seen the reason why he chose Fubara.
“If you expect me to come and explain it to you, I will not do that because the Yorubas have been saying that it is with parables that they beat their ‘gidigbo’ drum. It is those with sense that will understand it, and it has shown what Fubara is all about.
“You quickly went to join the APC, you couldn’t get consolidation there. So look at you now. Now they have brought Chinda but let us see also. Another royal battle between Wike and Chinda?
“Will Wike be able to hold Chinda’s hands and keep it well? Because what we are seeing increasingly is that Wike has dominated Rivers politics, whether you like it or not.
“He is becoming the de facto god of Rivers politics, or if not the…I don’t have to use the word de facto; he has become the god, if he can control two political parties and everybody is moving with him.
“Maybe. Whatever happens, it will be Wike who will produce the next governor. But how sustainable will this hegemonic position be? That’s going to be the true test of our democracy.” We can continue to fool ourselves and think it is a good thing, but it is not a good thing for our democracy that one man takes everything, because we have seen what happened in Lagos.
“If we allow this to continue, this could lead to Lagos becoming like Rivers, and that’s why we must tell ourselves the hard truth at every point in time.”
