The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has yet to receive a clear explanation from his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, regarding the ongoing political conflict between them. This was noted by Jerry Omotsegunwa, the Special Assistant to Governor Fubara on Electronic Media.
The dispute between Fubara and Wike has been an issue since late 2023, leading to a political crisis that reached it’s peak on March 18, 2025. As a result, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending Governor Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a recent interview with DW, former Transport Minister and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, suggested that the conflict between the two politicians was rooted in disagreements over money sharing. However, Amaechi strongly criticized President Tinubu’s emergency rule decision, calling it unconstitutional.
Reacting to Amaechi’s claim, Omotsegunwa stated that Wike had never given a clear reason for his hostility towards Fubara. He described Amaechi’s remarks as a personal viewpoint but admitted that the true cause of the rift remained unknown.
“As it stands right now, I will not dispute Amaechi’s position even though he has the right to his own opinion. This crisis has dragged on for almost two years now, and nobody has told us what the actual problem is,” Omotsegunwa said.
He further noted that neither Wike, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), nor Governor Fubara had provided any specific details on the cause of the disagreement.
“The FCT minister has not told us anything that led to the crisis, and the governor too has not provided any clarity,” he added.
Omotsegunwa recalled that when discussions about Fubara’s possible impeachment surfaced, the governor himself questioned what offense he had committed. The response from Wike at the time suggested that Fubara had attempted to weaken his political influence. However, Omotsegunwa said these explanations still did not clarify the root cause of the dispute.
He concluded by stating that while Amaechi was entitled to his opinion, the real reason behind the crisis remained a mystery until Wike openly addressed the issue. “So, as much as I don’t want to say he has lied, I also say he has the right to his own opinion, and that is his personal opinion,” Omotsegunwa noted.
