by Eze King
Like the ancient watchmen of Israel who stood upon the walls to observe the shifting winds of power, the political landscape of Nigeria once again trembles with movement.
“For promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west… but God is the judge”
And in this season, the story of Rivers State has become a parable of loyalty, influence, and the sovereignty of higher authority.
Fubara’s Declaration
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, emerging from a strategic visit to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, spoke words that rippled across the Niger Delta:
“Following my visit to President Tinubu… we agreed that I have every reason to identify with Mr. President, as I wouldn’t still be here as Governor without him. We have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC, as the President has been supportive all through”, Fubara said.
Nowhere in the entire speech was the name of the former Rivers helmsman and current FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, mentioned, an omission analysts quickly interpreted as symbolic.
For “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”, so said Matthel.
The Quiet Storm Between
According to political commentators, Fubara’s speech marked a decisive break from the narrative of dependency. For months, Rivers politics had been framed as a tension of mentorship, yet the Governor’s words were clear:
His political “saviour,” as he framed it, is the President, not his predecessor.
In less than twelve hours, Governor Fubara hosted a massive statewide rally in Port Harcourt, a gathering described by local observers as a “show of strength and legitimacy.”
Absent, however, were the loyalists often associated with the FCT Minister, Assembly members, coordinators, ward leaders.
As one analyst put it: “Political silence often speaks louder than speeches. The absence of Wike’s faction from both the meeting and the rally signals that the political bridge between the two is no longer carrying weight.”
New Political Son?
Reports circulating among Abuja and Port Harcourt insiders suggest that President Tinubu now sees Fubara as a direct political ally, no longer requiring mediation through the FCT Minister.
In the words of a well-known Abuja commentator: “This is not just defection; it is realignment. Tinubu is securing the South-South through a governor he considers dependable. It is a masterstroke ahead of 2027.”
Scripture reminds us: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord… He turns it wherever He wills.”
In Nigeria’s political theatre, such turning is often visible in alliances, defections, and quiet recalibrations.
Wike’s Dimming Influence
For months, national discourse has highlighted the tensions between the FCT Minister and several powerful blocs in the capital. Major online publications and political analysts have repeatedly commented on his confrontational administrative style and his open disagreements with federal stakeholders.
A senior policy analyst remarked in a televised discussion: “Wike has stepped on toes that even seasoned politicians avoid. The price of such boldness is the erosion of goodwill within corridors of power.
“Once a politician becomes isolated from the national power grid, influence naturally shifts to someone more stable. For Rivers, that someone is now Fubara.”
The Mood Of Rivers People
Across the state, the general sentiment has been one of surprising unity. Political analyst, Emeka Mba, expressed in an online interview:
“If you observe the atmosphere in Rivers State now, you’ll notice genuine happiness across political divides. Fubara is organically loved. His defection feels less like betrayal and more like liberation. To everything there is a season…”
And to many Rivers residents, this appears to be the season of political emancipation. By consolidating his base and aligning directly with the President, Governor Fubara is laying a new foundation, not only for himself, but possibly for Rivers’ positioning in the 2027 national equation.
Meanwhile, the FCT Minister’s recent uncharacteristic quietness, noticed by virtually all political journalists, suggests a recalibration of strategy or a concession to shifting winds.
Whether this is the rising of a new order, or merely the reshuffling of old hierarchies, time will reveal. But one truth echoes above all:
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labour do so in vain”.
And in Nigeria’s ever-moving political house, fortunes rise and fall at the breath of both men and providence.
How Tinubu Freed Fubara From Wike
