- The Rivers political crisis has continued to generate condemnation from well-meaning Nigerians as every event turns violence
- Bisi Afolabi, a lawyer who spoke with Legit.ng, described the development in Rivers as unfortunate
- Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers started the rift with his predecessor and godfather soon after resuming office
The political crisis in Rivers State has continued to generate reactions from concerned Nigerians. This is as events have continued to be a new chapter of violence between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
In an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, Bisi Afolabi, a legal practitioner, described the development as unfortunate, adding that the situation between Governor Fubara and Wike was not peculiar only to Rivers.
Photo Credit: @GovWike, @SimFubaraKSC
Source: Twitter
Lawyer condemns electoral malpractices in Rivers LG poll
Afolabi lamented that an elected officer was being circumvented politically, noting that the electoral malpractices and violence in the recently concluded local government election in the state were condemnable.
The lawyer told Legit.ng:
“The political development in Rivers State is unfortunate. However, it is merely a continuum of heightened political drama that the state has come to be known for over the years. It is more unfortunate that an individual who has been rightly elected by the people is being circumvented politically from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities.
“The news of rigging and electoral manipulation in the recent local government elections in the state is disheartening. However, the court is there to provide a platform for hearing and determining the grievances of parties in matters like these instead of taking the law into their own hands.”
When did Wike/Fubara’s crisis
The rift is believed to have begun shortly after Fubara’s inauguration, with Wike expressing dissatisfaction with the governor’s appointments and decision-making process. One of the key issues fueling the rift is Wike’s perceived marginalization in the Fubara administration.
Wike, who handed power over to Fubara, had expected to maintain significant influence in the state’s politics. However, Fubara’s removal of some Wike-appointed officials and the reversal of certain policies initiated by his predecessor have exacerbated the situation.
The implications of the rift are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the PDP’s unity and electoral fortunes in Rivers State. Wike’s influence in the state’s politics remains significant, and his dissatisfaction with Fubara’s leadership could lead to divisions within the party. Some analysts fear that the rift could create an opening for opposition parties, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC), to gain traction in the state.
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Source: Legit.ng
