The lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike thought they had Governor Siminalayi Fubara cornered. Their plan was simple: push him to the edge, force him to react emotionally, and create a crisis that would justify either his impeachment or a state of emergency in Rivers State. But Fubara outplayed them.
Instead of resisting or lashing out, he took a different approach. He accepted the Supreme Court’s ruling without hesitation and even agreed to re-present the budget to the Amaewhule-led House. This was a strategic move that caught his opponents off guard.
Ironically, the same lawmakers who once gave him a strict 48-hour deadline to present the budget are now avoiding it. They assumed he would refuse, but when he complied, they had no counter-strategy. Out of options, they went on recess without setting a return date, exposing their own weakness.
When some people called Fubara weak, they underestimated him. While the Supreme Court ruling seemed to favor Wike’s camp, Fubara turned it into an advantage. By publicly aligning with their demand for compliance, he exposed their insincerity. Now, they don’t want him to present the budget—contradicting their own stance.
Unlike a typical Nigerian governor who might have retaliated aggressively, Fubara has chosen a different path. As the Chief Security Officer of Rivers State, he understands that his primary duty is to maintain peace and protect lives. Instead of escalating tensions, he has gained the people’s support and skillfully avoided the political traps set for him.
In the end, Fubara has proven to be a leader who thinks several steps ahead. His calm and calculated approach is not just keeping Rivers State stable—it’s slowly dismantling the power play against him.
