A political analyst, Chief Onuoha, has declared that the lingering political crisis in Rivers State is effectively over, asserting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has lost significant political ground in the unfolding power struggle.
Speaking in an interview at his office on Njemanze Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Chief Onuoha said the governor’s chances of political survival ahead of the 2027 governorship election remain slim under the current circumstances.
He argued that although there may be a remote possibility for Fubara if he chooses to defect to a political party outside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), such a move would still present enormous challenges. According to him, even if the governor secures victory at the polls, he would still contend with loyalists of the former governor across critical political structures in the state.
Chief Onuoha noted that supporters of the former governor dominate key institutions, including the Rivers State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. He maintained that this political alignment would make governance difficult for Fubara, potentially reducing him to what he described as a “puppet governor” under constant pressure, including the threat of impeachment.
The analyst further criticized the governor’s handling of the crisis, alleging that Fubara failed to assert himself when it mattered most. He claimed that the governor had at a point urged his supporters to step back, describing the dispute as a “father and son” matter, a characterization he said was not reciprocated by the former governor.
Chief Onuoha recalled a previous intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who brokered peace between the warring factions. He alleged that the former governor had warned the president not to intervene again in Rivers State matters, while maintaining a hardline stance.
According to him, Governor Fubara’s disposition towards peace made him vulnerable in a highly charged political environment. “A leader can be peaceful and still be decisive and firm,” he said, adding that the governor, in his view, lacked the capacity and strategy required from the outset of the crisis.
Chief Onuoha concluded by urging Rivers people to remain vigilant, stressing that political leadership requires both diplomacy and strength to effectively navigate internal conflicts.
