Anti-Wike moves, only reason Fubara is popular – Amaechi

Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, has maintained his neutrality in the ongoing rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara, who became governor in May 2023, formerly worked as the accountant-general for Wike’s administration.

Wike initially backed Fubara’s governorship campaign, but their relationship worsened shortly after he took office.

This fallout has caused profound divisions in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

In December 2023, a significant shift occurred when 27 assembly members loyal to Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

During a recent visit to Okorinama West, an APC leader in Port Harcourt, Amaechi, who governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, made it clear that he would not take sides with either Fubara or Wike.

Amaechi suggested that Fubara’s popularity largely results from his opposition to Wike, rather than his own merits.

“Many of our supporters who cannot endure hardship have aligned with either Sim or Wike. I will not join them. I will not support Sim, nor will I support Wike,” Amaechi stated.

He emphasized the importance of grassroots support in political prominence, noting, “No leader is significant without the support of the people. If you observe the political landscape in Rivers State, more people are aligned with us than with Sim. Sim’s perceived popularity today is due to his stance against Wike, not because he is exceptionally outstanding. The state’s weariness with Wike has elevated Sim’s status.”

Wike, who succeeded Amaechi and initially served as his chief of staff, built his own political clout through his opposition to Amaechi.

The rift between the two deepened after Amaechi joined the APC and supported Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election, while Wike, running for governor under the PDP, backed Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign.