The anchor of Arise Television’s Morning Show, Rufai Oseni, 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.
Oseni, who spoke on the TV’s programme on Thursday, 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 revealed the reasons behind Wike’s choice of Fubara as governor in 2023.
Oseni further challenged Fubara’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying it did not give the political consolidation he may have been expecting.
Wike now seems to have the ability to control political structures across party lines, the broadcaster said, noting that the former Rivers governor has become the kingmaker as to who becomes the next governor of the state.
But Oseni questioned whether such political dominance was sustainable, saying that granting too much power to one person could jeopardize democratic development.
Oseni said: “What would 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 the sensible ones 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 also see. Another royal tussle between Wike and Chinda?
“Will Wike be able to hold Chinda’s hands and keep it well? Because what we are seeing more and more is that Wike has taken over 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.
“We’ll see. Whatever the case, it will be Wike who will produce the next governor. But how long will this hegemonic position be sustainable? That’s going to be the real 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 this is allowed to continue, this could lead to Lagos becoming like Rivers and that is why we must tell ourselves the hard truth at every point in time.
