Port Harcourt, Rivers State, April 4, 2024 – The political atmosphere in Rivers State heats up as the All Progressives Congress (APC) accuses Governor Siminalayi Fubara of attempting to procure interim orders aimed at declaring the state House of Assembly illegal. This allegation comes amidst a backdrop of ongoing political tension within the state.
During a media briefing in Port Harcourt, Tony Okocha, the State APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, raised concerns over Governor Fubara’s recent comments to members of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). Okocha interpreted Fubara’s remarks as both a declaration of defiance against political adversaries and a show of disrespect towards President Bola Tinubu. “If you dare me, I will surprise you,” Fubara reportedly warned, signaling a readiness for a confrontational approach in the political fray.
The governor’s statements, urging NULGE members to brace themselves for a “fire for fire” phase, further fueled speculations of a brewing storm in Rivers political waters.
In response to these allegations, Mr. Joseph Johnson, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, dismissed the APC’s claims as baseless. He argued that the opposition’s fear stems from their anticipation of defeat, citing the support expressed by NULGE members for the governor as evidence of the administration’s widespread acceptance. “There is nothing like that. They are afraid because they know their fall is near,” Johnson stated, downplaying the APC’s allegations as a reaction to their perceived political vulnerability.
This clash of narratives underscores the deep-seated divisions within Rivers State’s political landscape, as both the ruling party and the opposition position themselves ahead of upcoming electoral battles. The APC’s allegations against Governor Fubara highlight the tense atmosphere and the high stakes involved in the state’s governance and political alignment processes.
