Former chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Chijioke Ihunwo, has attributed the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State to external interference in the State House of Assembly, insisting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has committed no offence to warrant impeachment.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Saturday, Ihunwo said the crisis has persisted despite presidential intervention and emergency measures because certain political actors are unwilling to allow the elected governor to function independently without intimidation or manipulation, stressing that Rivers State belongs to its people and not to any individual or political godfather.
“Rivers State belongs to all of us, and Rivers people elected a man to manage the affairs of our state. This man was elected on the mandate of Rivers people, not on your mandate.
“The solution to this problem is that the Assembly should not be manipulated by the Minister of FCT because he is instructing them on what to do. They want to remove the governor. What is the offence of the governor?”
Ihunwo accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of influencing lawmakers, claiming the Assembly is being instructed on how to act. “The Assembly should not be manipulated by the Minister of FCT because he is instructing them on what to do. They want to remove the governor. What is the offence of the governor? They now want to also remove the deputy governor. What is the offence of the deputy governor?”
He argued that the lawmakers have abandoned their constitutional independence, noting that many of them served during previous administrations and would not have attempted similar actions under former governors. “Most of these assembly members were in the ninth assembly when the former governor was there with the FCT minister. You can also invite them to your studio and ask them this question. When they were there, can they do what they are doing now to Rike? They cannot write. They are afraid of even going to talk to the governor there.
“Can they try that with Rike, with the governor, their friends? They know what I’m talking about. I have most of my friends there. They have been crying when the former governor was there. We’re not getting anything. We’re not doing that.”
On the controversy surrounding the 2025 budget, Ihunwo explained that a valid appropriation already exists. “And I’m not misreading, you’re talking about the budget, 2025 budget. The administrator, Ebas, did a budget, submitted to Mr. President, Mr. President returned it to the National Assembly and they approved it as a working document for River’s people. The governor came in after the emergency rule and continued where he stopped, where the administrator stopped. And the assembly is telling the governor to submit another supplementary budget. And the governor said, look, the budget approved by the National Assembly is still running. Let us work with that. And they have refused.”
Ihunwo warned that the political instability is damaging Rivers State’s economy, discouraging investors and shifting economic activity to neighboring states. “Since this crisis started, those who are coming to invest in our state, a lot of things is happening. People are scared because they say there’s a crisis in River State. We don’t like to invest. People are running head-to-head and the government is shifting from River’s to other neighbourhoods like Apoyebombe and other states. So, it’s affecting the economy of River’s people. Because people want to bring their money to invest in River State.”
He described the crisis as the result of personal ambition and greed, accusing a former governor of attempting to rule by proxy after completing his tenure. “So, what is causing this issue is greed. One man has finished his tenure as a governor and wants to be governor by promise. He’s sitting at the back to control a governor. River State’s governor, office of the River State governor is not a local government chairman. That is a very strong position to be held. So, the governor is doing his best to ensure that River State is calm. And he’s also managing to consult rules and other developments. But it’s also affecting us. Those are the people that are complaining, people are running away because of one man who wants to own our state.”
Rejecting claims of a binding political agreement between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Ihunwo insisted that no private arrangement can override the will of the electorate. “And eventually sat down and the governor was seated. What kind of agreement would you tell a man that the governor was seated to keep? That you will not dig up from PDP to APC? That you will not do this? What kind of agreement? We are not aware of any agreement. Any agreement that we can want to enter with Fubara will be entered with three reverse people and not one man. Because we elected the governor. One man cannot make a governor. Reverse people sat down and said, look, this man will go to support you. So any agreement, they should come and do it to the reverse people. Whatever agreement they have done, we are not interested. We are not interested about Fubara. They should allow Fubara to have peace.”
He repeatedly described Governor Fubara as a peaceful leader exercising restraint despite pressure. “The governor is a man that has conscience. In fact, I have not seen any man on earth like that. The governor of Fubara is a very peaceful person, Do you know what is the office of the governor of River State? Some persons would have even come to River State. But the governor said no. Let there be peace in our state.”
Ihunwo appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to intervene decisively, arguing that most lawmakers are acting out of fear rather than conviction. “So I want to appeal to Mr President. I think he needs to call the minister to order, to call the assembly. Because majority of the assembly members are listening to him. Although most of them are not also happy with the crisis. But they don’t have any option. Because they are scared to talk. Me, I am not scared. I am telling you what I am saying is the truth, whether you like it or not. Some people are saying, listen to my nonsense. What I am saying is the fact.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Ihunwo said Rivers people remain politically stable and supportive of both President Tinubu and Governor Fubara, dismissing fears that the crisis could weaken the ruling party. “Reverse people are supporting Mr. President. The governor has sat down and said, look, the crisis in PDP, there has been a lot of crisis. And the governor said, look, all of these political families who are moving to the All Progressive Congress to support Mr. President, to do a second term. So, and the governor is bent on that, We are in APC, we are in PDP. So, there is nothing going to affect our state. Our state is inter-politically, because we are aligned ourselves to Mr. President. And the decisions are final. Reverse people want Ahmed Bolatunibu to return for a second term as a president. And by the grace of God, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, will be elected as governor. He has the constitutional right to run for a second term. People are saying he shouldn’t run for a second term, except he said he does not want to run. Maybe on health grounds. Constitutionally, he has rights to run for a second term. So, I want our people, reverse people especially, to continue to support him, that the governor will not fail, reverse people will destroy our state.”
When the ministers say the Governor Fubara goes for a second term, he’s buried politically. No one man can be God. “It’s only God that gives position. What God gives you power is not your rights. It’s a privilege for you to serve. So nothing will happen to him. Governor Efubola will also be governor for a second term, and there will be peace in River State.”
He concluded with a broader warning to political parties across Nigeria, urging them to reject godfatherism and respect internal democracy.
“For me, my advice for other political parties in this country is, one, the issue of godfatherism. Godfatherism is the issue. The same man who said when Amboni was having issues with Mr. President, then said Amboni should resist godfatherism. It’s everywhere. Now, you are not coming to Godfather of River State, where we have people who have left office before you. Did they control you like that? So, what we need to do as political parties is to condone their primaries. Whenever you win your primaries, you should go and run for election, and we listen to somebody saying, I made you, God made somebody want to kill the person. God made somebody want to destroy the person. For us, I believe in this philosophy, I don’t let primaries be heard. Whoever wins the primaries should go and run for his election. That somebody who sits down somewhere and says, I made you, he can’t make somebody who doesn’t reverse people. All of us sat down and took that decision that we are going to support Sarsaparilla Life Marathon to run for the office of the governor of River State in 2023. And since then, the man has not rested. Every day, you see pockets of cash everywhere. Let me tell you something, Godfather of River State is a kind-hearted man. If it is me who is the governor, my sister, a lot of things that happen in River State, they saw a man who is very quiet, like I said before, those who are deaf and dumb are not talking because the governor is a very kind-hearted man and has conscience. So, political parties in Nigeria should conduct free and fair primaries. Whosoever wins the election should, you know, govern the state or govern whatever you are.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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