Rivers Crisis: APC Governors Back Fubara as Wike’s Influence Wanes
By: Abudu Olalekan
Rivers crisis 2027 heats up. APC governors rally behind Fubara. Wike fights back hard. Basiru clashes with minister. Defections shake politics. What’s next for Rivers State?
Picture this. Rivers State. Oil money flowing. But politics? It’s boiling over. The 2027 battle lines drawn sharp. Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, wants to crush his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s re-election dreams. But plot twist. Top APC governors step in. They back Fubara. Big time.
It started sneaky. Sources at Reportersroom heard it Monday. Wike’s crew tried pushing Samuel Anyanwu—old PDP bigwig—for Imo governor. No heads-up to Hope Uzodimma, APC governors’ chair. Uzodimma? Furious. Rally the troops. Target Wike’s backyard. Rivers.
Now, Fubara’s got friends in high places. APC top brass love his projects. Roads. Bridges. Praise pouring in. APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru? He’s all in. “Support Fubara,” he says in Sunday chat with Reportersroom. Even warned South-South chair Victor Giadom. Don’t trash the gov. Party stays neutral.
Giadom fired back though. “Fubara needs Wike in Gokana. No-go zone without him.” Wike’s home turf. Dependable leader, Giadom calls him. Tinubu fans too. But Basiru? Not having it. Berated Giadom for dissing Fubara.
Monday explodes. Wike tours Oyigbo. Thank-you visit. Drops bombs. “Leave Rivers alone,” he warns Basiru. “N600bn in coffers? Don’t eye it. Osun boy, stay out. Hand burns? Not me.” Casual threat. Pidgin slip. Fire.
Basiru hits back. Statement sharp. “Resign, Wike. You’re no APC member. Can’t meddle.” Authority? His as nat sec. “Not confined to Osun.” Dismisses cash grab lies. “Integrity here. Fought military. No bully.”
Wike’s not APC, true. PDP roots. Helped Tinubu win though. Delivered Rivers. Now? Fubara defects December 9. Assembly flips too. APC leader in Rivers? Him. Wike fumes. “No re-run. Agreement broken.” Tinubu peace deal? Fubara won’t contest, it said. Basiru revives hope.
More drama. Deputy Gov Ngozi Odu joins APC. E-registers ward. Tours zones. SSG Benibo Anabraba quits PDP too. Personal call. Thanks party past.
Oyigbo gripes. Desmond Akawor, Wike ally, blasts Fubara. “Development stalled. Expected Wike 2.0. Just commissioner slot. N600bn? Share fair.”
Elders chime. Ann Kio-Briggs swipes Wike. “No own Rivers. Fubara’s gov now. Majority back. Peace! Let people pick.” Threat to block 2027? Unacceptable. Threat to state.
Coalition’s Peter Ameh cheers Basiru. “Bold. Wike used up. Join APC, take Fubara orders.” Tinubu game? Two camps campaigning. Rivers suffers.
Defenders rally. Chidi Lloyd: “Basiru can’t demand resignation. President’s call.” Chimelem Wodi: “Busybody. Wike performs. Best minister.”
Joe Igbokwe, ex-Lagos APC voice, Facebook plea. “Stop fight. Wike asset. Pillar. Unity now.”
Rivers crisis 2027. Governors vs minister. Basiru vs Wike. Defections. Warnings. Fubara emboldened. Wike weakened? Some say Tinubu insiders cool on him. APC plot: Dim his power.
Story unfolds. Short fuses. Abrupt turns. Who’s winning? 2027 looms. Rivers watches. Peace? Maybe not yet.
