2027: Resetting Rivers politics: Matters arising
If the circumstances of the forthcoming polls would add to Rivers State the title of ‘Godfather’s den in Nigerian politics,’ and its traditional one of the country’s treasure-base, it would be for a good reason. This is even as the signs are already manifesting. With its history of protracted months-long power struggle between the incumbent […]
The forthcoming polls in Rivers State could potentially earn it the title of 'Godfather's den in Nigerian politics' due to its history of power struggles and governance issues. The current state of affairs, marked by a protracted conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor-turned-minister Nyesom Wike, has created a new paradigm with the center unable to hold.
The situation has been further exacerbated by Wike's attempts to unseat Fubara through strong-arm tactics, money payoffs, and raw political muscle. The collapse of their relationship has led to a series of twists and turns in the state's politics, including violence and threats. To address this, it is crucial to reset the state's politics for the benefit of its people.
This involves returning to constitutional principles for good governance and a meaningful society. As of now, there are 19 governorship candidates representing 19 political parties, many of whom have aligned with Wike's Rainbow Coalition. Despite this, recent political rallies, such as President Bola Tinubu's in Port Harcourt, have revealed the state's ongoing struggles.
The lack of enthusiasm at the event, combined with the state's history of harassment and control stripping, has led to widespread resentment among the people. Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs of the NDC, with his mission statement focused on resetting Rivers State politics, is emerging as a notable candidate for the 2027 polls.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
