PORT HARCOURT – The political warfare in Rivers State has taken a sharp, personal turn as Lere Olayinka, a senior media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, publicly ridiculed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing him as a “weak politician” who must bow to his predecessor to survive.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Wednesday, Olayinka asserted that Wike remains the undisputed “Landlord” of Rivers politics, maintaining absolute control over the state’s local government and legislative structures from his office in Abuja.
“If another person is controlling your structure, it means that the person is stronger than you politically,” Olayinka stated, mocking Fubara for commanding only three loyalists in a House of Assembly where 27 members remain fiercely aligned with Wike. He further advised the Governor to drop his “confrontational” stance, suggesting that Fubara should literally “prostrate” and “do Twale” before Wike to resolve the ongoing crisis.
The aide dismissed allegations that Wike is the direct architect of the current impeachment proceedings, arguing that the FCT Minister is not the one who “wrote the budget” or committed the alleged acts of “misconduct” that have led lawmakers to seek Fubara’s removal. Instead, he urged the Governor to treat the pro-Wike legislators as his “political seniors” and negotiate for his political life.
The comments come at a critical juncture for Rivers State. On January 8, 2026, the State House of Assembly initiated its third attempt to impeach Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. Although the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi, recently declined to set up a probe panel due to subsisting court orders, the Amaewhule-led Assembly has filed appeals to clear the path for the Governor’s ouster.
Despite Fubara’s recent tactical defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), analysts note that his influence remains hampered by Wike’s deep-rooted grip on both the PDP and APC structures in the state. Olayinka’s remarks signal that the Wike camp is not ready for a ceasefire, insisting that “absolute loyalty” is the only price for peace.
Will Governor Fubara heed the call for a “humble” resolution, or will he continue the legal and political battle for his administration’s survival?
