BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
PORT HARCOURT – In a move that signals a dramatic escalation in the internecine conflict gripping Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reportedly marshalled an elite cadre of publicists and media proprietors to rehabilitate his administration’s standing and launch a calculated counter-offensive against his erstwhile benefactor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Sources close to the seat of power in Port Harcourt suggest that this “media apparatus” has been entrusted with a singular, high-stakes agenda: to systematically dismantle negative reportage and recalibrate public perception. It is alleged that substantial sums running into the millions, have been earmarked to ensure the “smooth execution” of this propaganda campaign.
The Resurrection of the Press
Evidence of this burgeoning media blitz is already manifesting across the newsstands of Rivers State. Observations by Africa Update indicate a curious phenomenon: local periodicals that had long since vanished from circulation have suddenly re-emerged with renewed vigour. These publications appear to be unified by a striking editorial slant; one that portrays Governor Fubara in a saintly light while casting Mr Wike in the role of the perennial villain.
While some might dismiss this sudden proliferation of pro-government literature as mere coincidence, seasoned political observers point to a more insidious trend. The recent dissemination of a “patently false” report claiming the State House of Assembly had abandoned its impeachment proceedings, a claim swiftly and vehemently debunked by the legislature, has lent considerable weight to allegations of “shadow journalism” intended to obfuscate the truth.
The Fourth Estate Under Scrutiny
The reports have sparked a wave of apprehension among the Rivers electorate. Many fear that the true nature of the political impasse between the Governor and the Minister is being buried under a mountain of manufactured narratives.
A cross-section of respondents expressed grave concern that the “Fourth Estate of the Realm,” traditionally the bastion of truth and the “mirror of society,” may be succumbing to the allure of financial inducement.
“There is a growing anxiety that some journalists may be playing the role of Judas,” remarked one commentator, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “The concern is that they are betraying the sacred trust of the public for a handful of silver, trading their professional integrity for political patronage.”
As the “war of words” intensifies, the citizens of Rivers State find themselves caught in a crossfire of competing narratives, where the line between objective reporting and state-sponsored hagiography becomes increasingly blurred.
