Wike vs Fubara update: No signs of letup as LGA elections rush on

…Both camps mobilise, flex muscles

…Secret meeting in Aso Rock between Tinubu and Fubara alone sends jitters

…Major clauses of Aso Rock agreement remain untouched

Observers of the in-camp fight between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and his godson Sim Fubara may not know whether the peace agreement is moving forward or backward.

What is true is that the governor is not being impeached for now and that the defected lawmakers (Wike-backed members of the Rivers State House of Assembly) have started getting their allowances. That seems to be the much both parties can give for low.

Beyond that, the man who likes to verbally attack, Nyesom Wike, has continued to do so, while the one that fights silently seems to also have continued to do so. Besides, each gladiator is known to be moving to mop up support from within and outside the state. Wike held a luncheon in Rivers State without inviting his godson, the godson visited Bayelsa to hobnob with the chief executive of that sister state that is known to be at agony with Wike. Such is the underlining of their relationship as at end of January second week.

Signs that nothing is well between both men is a threat by Wike at the weekend that those supporting Fubara are noisemakers who would find out who really is who when the time comes. Everybody thinks he has the local council elections that would hold this year in mind.

In a meeting that took place at the home of the south-south Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Victor Giadom, Wike said the visit was personal and non-political. Many see the meeting as final steps to more defections to the APC. “If you like abuse me as you want . If you like employ everybody on social media. I have never bothered myself one day to know who is abusing me. Politics will come. We didn’t contest election based on social media. We spoke to the people, they listened and believed in us”.

Speaking on his realignment with Victor Giadom, a former Chibuike Amaechi man, Wike said: “Party will come and go and friendship will remain. We have made our mistakes, we are all human but friendship remains.

“When I was appointed a Minister, Victor Giadom led a team to congratulate me. This visit I came today will cause a lot of trouble. Some people will start visits now. Follow who knows road. Continue to support Victor and all your leaders who mean well for all of you.”

Next, news came that Gov Fubara was in a late evening meeting in Aso Rock with President Tinubu. Sources said those against Fubara were not comfortable with such a meeting. For now, they believed, only Wike was seeing Tinubu.

There has been a groundswell of support for Fubara. Most persons felt they had had enough of Wike. Those who hated Fubara because he seemed to represent Wike’s third term have now eased a sigh of relief and seem to embrace the Opobo-born governor. He has also decided to do populist programmes especially empowerment and promotions of workers.

Secret meeting in Aso rock could deliver Rivers to Tinubu outside Wike. Many say Wike and Tinubu struck a closeness that injured Amaechi right after 2015 inauguration. This seems to indicate that Tinubu may prefer a sitting governor to manage that deal (relationship) than a third party such as an ex-governor. Besides, leaders such as Tinubu love crowds and power holders than anything less.

It is thus ominous what the meeting between both men could touch on but many believe it would put most facts on the table to the president.

Many also believe that many clauses in the agreement dictated by Tinubu may have come out of Aso Rock’s blind side or not knowing all the facts. The elders of the state and groups have rejected most of the clauses. Many called on Fubara to repudiate the agreement, but he chose to endorse it, something that may have given the president some joy, in the dictum of ‘obey before complaining.’

Sim has obeyed only one major clause by releasing the allowances of the lawmakers. He has also got his loyal lawmaker to resign and has openly recognised the Wike speaker. That’s where it seems to stop.

The lawmakers have openly withdrawn their impeachment notice, though many say there was no notice in the first place.

Bad signs:

The lawmakers have stirred by demanding that the budget be re-presented to them. This seems to be a nutty issue. The Fubara camp insists that the defected lawmakers be replaced. Also, the commissioners that resigned have not reapplied nor reabsorbed. These are still the sour issues.

The approach of the LGA elections is said to be the nuttiest issue. Wike is said to have wanted and still wants to staff the 23 LGAs just as he populated the state executive council. He calls this his structure. Many warn Fubara not to accept such a suicide pill. That may be why the Aso Rock meeting is crucial.

The president had warned that disobeying him carried consequences. To Fubara, one of such could be the Supreme Court case coming up fast. Could Aso Rock use it to flush him out, if he showed any slight of insubordination? Wike would want it that way, but Tinubu would want to be sure where Fubara stands before such drastic slaps. The meeting in Aso Rock could clear such things.

Fubara could use such opportunity to renegotiate his relationship with his godfather by requesting a deal that would give him more control of the cabinet and the treasury. If Aso Rock assures him of that, he as a trained civil servant would obey from his heart. Tinubu is versed in indirect control of governors, Wike is versed in direct controls. A truce may be reached especially if Fubara can reassure on the 2015 Brick House deal and firmly promise 2027 wholesale.

The Aso Rock meeting details may be unavailable for now, but politicians are in the kiss and tell game. Hints will surely escape to the grapevines and then to mere mortals.

The post Wike vs Fubara update: No signs of letup as LGA elections rush on first appeared on Newsdirect.