Austin Tam-George has suggested that the defection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reshaped the political landscape in Rivers State, diminishing the influence of the camp loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Appearing on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Tam-George, a former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, noted that in the last three weeks, the political dynamics in the state had shifted dramatically.
He pointed out that the defection seemed to have unsettled Wike and his allies, leading to increased political activity by the FCT Minister.
According to Tam-George, Wike had embarked on a series of visits to local government areas, which he argued was an attempt to reassert influence in light of Fubara’s defection.
He claimed that Wike’s camp had previously enjoyed significant leverage over the state government, but with Fubara’s switch to the APC, that influence was severely diminished.
While emphasizing the growing tension, Tam-George expressed concern about the long-term impact of the rivalry between Wike and Fubara.
He warned that the ongoing instability in the state could ultimately harm Rivers State and its people.
Furthermore, Tam-George cited Wike’s recent rhetoric, which included accusations against senior APC leaders and the Tinubu administration, suggesting they had accepted bribes from the Rivers State government.
He argued that these actions were a reflection of the heightened political friction in the state following Fubara’s defection.
Tam-George warned that the instability created by this political rivalry could detract from the state’s development and wellbeing, ultimately leaving Rivers State as the biggest loser in the dispute.
Tam-George said: “The movement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to APC in the last 21 days has changed the political calculation in Rivers State.
“You know, in the past two weeks or so, the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has been going from local government area to another local government area, threatening the government of Rivers state, even insulting the leadership structures of the APC at some point.
“He even accused some senior leaders and the Tinubu administration of going to Rivers State to literally accept, take money or bribes, also from the Rivers state government.
“So what I think is happening is that the defection of the governor has obviously threatened the original leverage that the Wike’s camp had over the governor, and they are finding a way to look for a way of asserting what they thought might be a threat to their leverage.
“But the regret is that it is the state ultimately that suffers from this kind of instability.”