Fubara fumes over Wike’s wiles, and now Rivers is in rumble. A deepening crisis. Or should we say it is a historic battle between the lion and the lion’s cub? Anyway, it’s a battle for political supremacy; a continuing desire for an all-inclusive hegemony by the former Emperor. You can even call it a clash of interest. That’s not bad! Although Wike is a wicked political pugilist, and now that Fubara has belled the cat, he should not be a fuddled fugitive. To fight or work with Wike, you must neither be querulous nor quarrelsome; you must be tactically fulsome!
The matter is getting to an interesting and dramatic climax as Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, and his hand-picked successor, Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, are currently engaging in a brutal public altercation. There has been a plot by members of the State House of Assembly to even impeach the governor. And In a now-viral video, we saw how Fubara was tear gassed, how the police used a water cannon to disperse him and his entourage, and the noise of gunshots. It’s pathetic! Although betrayal is one of the fundamental ingredients of politics in Nigeria, is the growing battle between Wike and Fubara not early?
First of all, Gov. Fubara is a lawless man. I don’t justify the horrible thing that happened to him when he went to the State House of Assembly Complex. But, lawfully, a governor should not be seen barging into the House when he is not invited, even though there’s a rumour of impeachment lurking around his head as governor. The legislature is a wholly independent – even though nominally so – body, and it must be respected by other arms. There is independence of all arms. There is separation of power in any democratic setting! Fubara’s fuse in that case is total lawlessness. You can call it executive rascality! It’s not bad. Not bad at all.
However, Wike is a characteristically drunk, psychopathic tyrant who always wants to have his dubious way! Apart from his once-in-a-while pragmatic approach to the business of governance, there’s nothing special about him again. A thuggish, perpetually garrulous, overbearing autocrat. According to Professor Farooq Kperogi, Wike is a tyrant who has missed his calling as a comedian, and I couldn’t agree more with Prof. Farooq. Wike would’ve been more flourishing in stand-up comedy than in politics where he fights with all and sundry.
Wike has been a political ‘hunter’ in his career. He fights even when he should stay back and watch. He has been fighting with Rotimi Amaechi, Tonye Cole, there’s a silent fight between him and Atiku, and, now, he’s ferociously fighting with his own handpicked godson! When will Wike be tired? One distinguishing characteristic of bullies and oppressors is that they always love to take advantage of people, but they wouldn’t like anything that resembles disobedience. However, if Wike is not careful this time, he could become the proverbial hunter who later becomes the hunted!
Even though I can’t shy away from the fact that there was an established social contract between Wike and Fubara before Wike handpicked him, or the little ungratefulness on the side of Fubara, the overbearing and dictatorial attitude of Wike is not bearable to anyone. Wike can be annoying, sometimes, and his megalomaniac streak makes him believe that he can do anything as far as Nigeria’s politics is concerned. But the fatal flaw of so many historical heroes, which led to their tragic end, is their pride-induced overconfidence! Wike may be no exception.
As a self-aggrandising and narcissist powermonger that Wike is, Fubara must deal with him like one trying to kill the proverbial mosquito on one’s testis. But Fubara should know also that no one bells the cat against Wike and then fearfully bury the hatchet! Since he has already belled the cat, he should make sure he nips the cat in the bud, otherwise he will find himself in the mud!
Sule Abubakar Lucky Mark,
Writer and Sociologist.
Email: suleabubakarmark1111@gmail.com
30/10/2023.