Barring any last-minute changes, suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is expected to resume office on September 18, marking the end of the six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18.
However, emerging details suggest that Fubara will return to Government House with significantly reduced powers as the Federal Government and his political benefactor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, tighten their hold on the state.
President Tinubu had met Fubara in Lagos on June 3 in a closed-door meeting aimed at reconciling him with Wike and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
A presidency source told BusinessDay that part of the peace framework included last weekend’s local government elections, where the All Progressives Congress secured 20 out of 23 chairmanship seats.
According to the source, Fubara’s reinstatement was pegged on conditions that would strip him of control over critical governance structures.
He said, “He will not control the local government and the Rivers State House of Assembly. This is to ensure that peace reigns.”
It was further learnt that the governor will be presented with a list of commissioners already decided from Abuja, which he would then forward to the House of Assembly for confirmation.
Beyond cabinet composition, key appointments, project priorities, capital projects and major expenditures will also be dictated by the Presidency, to avoid further clashes between the governor and lawmakers.
“Wike will take all the bullets for him,” the Villa source added, suggesting that the FCT Minister would continue to play a decisive role in Rivers politics.
It was also gathered that Fubara was encouraged to defect to the APC but the choice was left to him. Initially, the governor reportedly explored bringing his political structure into the ruling party, banking on Tinubu’s backing against Wike.
But Abuja’s message, according to insiders, was unambiguous, “If he wants to join the APC now, he must do so alone and pay his dues.”
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