Public affairs analyst, Celestine Akpobari, has described Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to step aside from the 2027 governorship race and endorse Representative Kingsley Chinda as a political suicide.
Akpobari, who spoke on Arise News on Sunday, said the governor had disappointed the people of Rivers State by abandoning them after they stood behind him during his political confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He said Fubara’s decision had effectively ended his political relevance in the state, arguing that the governor had turned his back on the people who supported him.
“What Simi has done is to commit suicide politically. He has thrown a bomb on himself in the name of calling Mahogany Mahogany. That shouldn’t be,” he said.
Akpobari recalled that Fubara had performed well in office despite the political tensions in the state, particularly in delivering projects.
He said, “Even in the midst of the crisis, Governor Simi was doing well. The project, nobody would have even carried out some of the projects that he gave us in the midst of the crisis. That shows that he has some guts.”
However, he faulted the governor for abandoning his supporters, likening his decision to a driver who leaves passengers stranded in the middle of a journey.
“But to the extent that, you know, you are driving people, you are the driver in the middle of the road, you abandon the people, walk out of the bus, leave the people there at the centre of nowhere, and take another flight and abandon them. That’s what he just did. He disappointed almost every person in River State,” Akpobari said.
The analyst maintained that whatever achievements Fubara recorded during his time in office would no longer count for much politically because of his latest decision.
“So, whatever good is that he has given to Rivers people, we don’t see it as anything. I would have wished that he was removed from the office and to stop this nonsense that he has just done. And I think that his political career is nowhere anymore,” he said.
Akpobari further dismissed Fubara’s chances of securing future electoral victories in Rivers State, insisting that the governor had lost the support of the electorate.
He said, “Yes, he’s finished politically. But they will give him an appointment. But if he contests any election in this state, even as a conference team, they will not vote for him.”
He added that the governor’s decision had angered supporters who had stood by him during his political battle with Wike.
“It’s very unfortunate that one of our best has been turned into a vegetable and we are angry,” Akpobari said.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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