Fubara simply said “Following my visit to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in which I briefed him on the situation in Rivers State, I had a meaningful discussion with Rivers State stakeholders at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
“We agreed that we have every reason to identify with Mr. President as I wouldn’t still be here as the Governor without him.
“We also decided to leave the PDP, our previous platform, and join the APC as Mr. President has been supportive all through”.
In the whole speech, Fubara never referenced his political godfather, the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, an indication that Wike was neither consulted nor his approval needed before the action was taken.
Fubara kept emphasizing that his political saviour remains Tinubu himself, and vows to support Tinubu with everything in him.
Few hours after the announcement last night, Fubara is at the time of this report hosting a statewide rally, well attended as a show of force, followers and support base. Both the stakeholders meeting where he announced his defection last night and the rally currently holding do not have Wike’s boys or followers in attendance, including House of Assembly members loyal to the FCT Minister, an indication that all is still not well politically with their supposedly “father and son” relationship as long Rivers State politics is concerned.
Information available from the political corridors in Rivers State has it that Fubara has now become President Tinubu’s adopted political son, and do not need to pass through Wike to see the President any longer, a development that could be described as an “uppercut” to the FCT Minister’s power game. And Wike’s unusual quietness in the past few weeks seems to indicate that all is not well with the political temperature around the loquacious politician.
Fubara is obviously consolidating on his new found Abuja front and is subtly gaining grounds and holding same for Tinubu and himself ahead of 2027 elections.
Recall that at the Abuja front, Wike is at loggerheads with the powers that be in the country, due to his approach to politics and administrative duties as the FCT Minister.
Wike has stepped on very big toes including the most dreaded military cabals in the country, a development that has made him lose much friendship and goodwill at the seat of power.
Analysts are already adding the mathematics to figure out President Tinubu’s game plan to capture Rivers State through a more stable Governor Fubara as against having to contend with Wike who has been reportedly giving the President a lot of issues and political pressure.
A political analyst, Emeka Mba while analyzing the defection of Governor Fubara from PDP to APC has this to say, ”If you observe the atmosphere in Rivers state now , you will notice the entire populace across political divide , are genuinely happy for the Governor. There is a genuine breath of fresh air. Fubara is genuinely and organically loved by the people.
