PORT HARCOURT — In the high-stakes theatre of Rivers State politics, the term “sin” has taken on a peculiar definition. To the political establishment, it is the refusal to bow to a self-proclaimed godfather. To the taxpayer, it is an unprecedented decision to keep the treasury doors locked against patronage.
Investigations by The Neighbourhood Newspaper have revealed that the latest escalation in the war between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the camp of his predecessor, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, is centered on a staggering ₦700 billion windfall currently sitting in the state’s coffers.
From ₦11bn to ₦28bn: Closing the Leakages
Governor Fubara, a career accountant and former Accountant-General, has reportedly committed the “unthinkable” act of opening the books. For the eight years of the previous administration, the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) remained stagnant at an average of ₦11bn to ₦12bn monthly.
However, within his first year, Fubara disclosed that through the systematic closing of leakages—without increasing taxes—the monthly IGR skyrocketed to ₦27bn, peaking at ₦28bn. This 100% increase inadvertently exposed years of “under-reporting” that had allegedly enriched private pockets at the expense of Rivers people.
The ₦700bn Standoff
As of early 2026, the Governor’s detractors have launched a desperate push to gain access to the ₦700 billion accumulated from this revenue surge. Sources close to the administration reveal that the Fubara “sin” is his refusal to allocate “special funds” or “political percentages” to the old guard.
Instead, the Governor has insisted on deploying the funds to massive infrastructure projects, including:
- The 50.15km Port Harcourt Ring Road:Â A legacy project traversing six Local Government Areas.
- The Ahoada-Omoku Road:Â A 31km dualization of a critical economic artery.
- The Egbeda-Omerelu Link Road:Â Designed to enhance connectivity for agricultural transport.
The ‘Supplementary Budget’ Trap
The Rivers State House of Assembly has cited “gross misconduct” over Fubara’s refusal to present a supplementary budget to “legalise” the spending of the state’s windfall. However, supporters of the Governor argue that presenting such a budget to an Assembly that has declared “total war” on the executive would be akin to “handing a loaded gun to an executioner.”
While the local political atmosphere remains toxic, Rivers State received national recognition in late 2025 for its “Open Governance and Fiscal Transparency” framework. The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) cited the state as a model for blocking public resource leakages—a validation that has only further incensed his political rivals.
Patronage vs. Performance
The core of the conflict is a battle of patronage versus performance. While roads are being built and salaries are being paid at record rates, the “kingmakers” find themselves starved of the patronage they once enjoyed.
As 2026 progresses, the question for Rivers State is no longer whether the Governor is performing—the numbers prove he is. The question is whether the state can survive a system where “good governance” is treated as an impeachable offence. For Governor Fubara, the “grundnorm” of the fight remains simple: a refusal to let the state’s purse be plundered by “masters” at the expense of the people. [1, 2, 3]
