The long-simmering political cold war in Rivers State has reached a precipitous and dramatic climax. In a series of bold executive manoeuvres, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has signaled an irreversible fracture with his predecessor, the former governor and current Minister, Nyesom Wike, marking what many observers describe as a “tectonic shift” in the state’s power dynamics.
The Governor has reportedly moved to decimate the influence of his erstwhile mentor within the citadel of power, ordering a sweeping “cleansing” of Government House. Sources close to the administration reveal that Governor Fubara directed the immediate removal of several high-ranking officials identified as Wike loyalists, effectively dismantling the “shadow cabinet” that has long been accused of dual allegiance.
In perhaps the most provocative act of this new offensive, the Governor has reportedly ordered the immediate closure of a prominent hotel within the state capital, allegedly linked to the business interests of the former governor. While the official grounds for the closure remain under a veil of administrative scrutiny, the move is widely interpreted as a direct strike against the financial and social hubs of the Wike faction.
The Governor’s rhetoric has sharpened significantly, moving from guarded diplomatic silence to a full-throated declaration of independence. Addressing the situation, Governor Fubara reportedly vowed to confront the “deep roots of godfatherism” that have historically gripped the state’s political machinery.
Insisting that Rivers State must be “liberated from undue influence,” the Governor reportedly declared his readiness for a protracted struggle, vowing to fight the political battle “to the very end,” regardless of the personal or political cost.
“The era of external dictation is over,” a source close to the Governor stated. “Rivers State belongs to the people, and the Governor is resolute in his commitment to ensure that the state’s resources and governance are no longer tethered to the whims of a single individual.”
This escalation has sent shockwaves through the wider political landscape of Nigeria. With the 2026 electoral cycle looming, the open warfare between the incumbent and his predecessor threatens to upend established alliances and create a vacuum of authority within the state’s ruling structures.
As the “Garden City” braces for the fallout of this executive defiance, all eyes turn to the Federal Capital Territory to see how the “Godfather” will respond to this direct assault on his legacy and his loyalists. In the heart of the Niger Delta, the battle lines are no longer drawn in the sand they are etched in stone.
