Senate President Godswill Akpabio criticizes Fubara over Rivers political crisis during a birthday celebration held in honor of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt.
Akpabio questioned Fubara’s inability to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the state..As the Special Guest of Honour at the event, Akpabio mocked the governor’s handling of the prolonged crisis.
The celebration, which was organized by Wike’s supporters under the banner of NEW Associates, a political movement named after Wike’s initials, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, drew a large crowd of loyalists, friends, and political associates.
In his remarks, Akpabio stressed the importance of fostering a harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislature. He formally acknowledged Martins Amaewhule as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, emphasizing that successful leadership requires collaboration with the legislature.
Drawing from his experience as a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio reminded Fubara that a governor’s greatest political challenge could come from the state assembly. The Senate President urged Fubara to adopt strategies to work effectively with the Speaker, noting that his own success as governor was largely due to his ability to maintain a cooperative relationship with the legislative arm.
He said: “For those of you who may not understand politics, we were taught that the parliament can turn a woman into a man and a man into a woman. As a governor, my greatest fear was my House of Assembly.”
“So because of that I never travelled anywhere without my Speaker. Any time I didn’t see him for a day I would send somebody to his house to invite him to come and have lunch with me and I used ideas to look at his face to know whether he was happy with me or not.”
“The only place that can hurt a governor is the House of Assembly and no court or democracy can stop that from happening. Any President that wants to survive like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must hold the Speaker and the Senate President very closely the way he is holding us.”
“Recently he conferred on us GCON, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, whether he loved it or not he did it. He muscled the two Chambers together”.
Akpabio Warns Fubara Against Politics of Betrayal
Senate President Godswill Akpabio questioned Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s inability to secure the support of some of the 27 lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, despite having substantial resources at his disposal.
Speaking at the birthday celebration of Wike in Port Harcourt, Akpabio expressed concerns about the growing culture of betrayal and treachery in politics, emphasizing its detrimental effect on sustainable governance. He warned that such an approach undermines stability and progress in leadership.
Akpabio also took note of the birthday lecture titled “Pragmatic Strides of a Visionary Leader and Contemporary Issues of Society,”*l delivered by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. He criticized the presentation for failing to address the crucial issue of sustainability in governance, which he considered a significant gap in the discussion.
He said: “I do not know what is happening in Rivers State but I hope that the successor to Wike realises the fact that no matter how the bird flies, the legs are pointing to the ground. “Something must be wrong.”
“Today is not for politics. Today is for Nyesom Wike. But sometimes I wonder; I would never be the governor given the resources of Rivers State and then I disagree with my House of Assembly and I am not able to poach at least one member out of the other group.”
“If I do not do that it means that there is something wrong with my political philosophy.” “I do not care what people say; we must try to stop this politics of betrayal, and politics of treachery because it does not allow for good succession. Prof Julius, in everything you said here, the word that was missing was ‘sustainability’.”
“You cannot have sustainability in good policies and governance when the person taking over from you is interested in not destroying you alone but destroying everything that you built. If you are a politician, note, you must have opposition; as people oppose you, they are also the step you can use to go higher”.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio advised politicians to serve with dedication, passion, confidence, and an open heart, assuring that such qualities would ultimately lead to divine elevation. He shared this perspective during the birthday celebration of Minister Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt.
In response, Wike expressed gratitude to the NEW Associates and Senator George Sekibo, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, for orchestrating the event. Unfazed by ongoing criticism from a few quarters, Wike remarked that he remained focused and unbothered by the negative opinions circulating about him.
His words: “For me, in life, what is important is, if you know what you want to do, and you know how you want to do it, then you go ahead. One thing that I can assure all of you here is that we will continue to make you proud.” “I will never be distracted. I will still be focused to achieve the results that Nigerians will know that Mr. President means well.”
“Yes, so many people have talked about criticism; I can assure you, it is even people who inform me that people are criticising me. Frankly speaking, because I do not see them and I don’t hear them and I cannot reply them.” Wike expressed gratitude for the overwhelming turnout at the event, stating that he was honored by the show of support. He also voiced his satisfaction with the backing he has received from President Tinubu.
Addressing the criticisms directed at him, Wike dismissed them as attempts by detractors to derail his focus. He emphasized that the best way to counter his critics was by delivering tangible results that serve the public interest. He said: “I have told most of you, do not bother about criticisms. What is important for you is to ask yourself if you are focused or you are doing what is expected of you to do.”
“I tell them, the moment your enemies see that you do not listen to them and you are focused and are there to achieve results they will be tired and when you are being distracted, you are worried they will say yes, they have now gotten you.”
“The only way that you can silence your critics is to show them your result, show them your performance. I am happy that when we were coming last night I saw the flyovers being painted. I have said, if you are not important nobody will talk about you.”
“So, the support Mr. President is giving to me is enough for me. I do not require anything. The moment I know that my Mr. President is happy, the moment I know that my family is happy, the moment I know that my friends and associates are happy, what is my own? I just go on.”
“If you cannot match up with what we have done, why not come out and say look, let the truth be told.” “I do not see anybody that will intimidate or threaten me. I have not seen that person. At the appropriate time we will talk politics; now is for project and project in FCT.”
