ABUJA: The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the FCT minister, Lere Olayinka, has described the Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara as “politically weak” for allowing his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to maintain a stranglehold on the state’s political architecture.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday which was monitored in Abuja, Olayinka argued that the ongoing friction between the Governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT is a testament to a power imbalance that favours his principal, Wike.
Olayinka did not mince words regarding Governor Fubara’s inability to consolidate power since taking office. He contended that if a minister residing in Abuja can still exert control over 27 members of a State House of Assembly, leaving the sitting governor with only a handful of loyalists, it points to a fundamental failure in the governor’s political leadership.
“If I am a minister and you are a governor, and I am able to control your House of Assembly, then something is wrong.
“It is because you are weak. If you are weak, accept that you are weak”, he said.
He further challenged the Governor’s status, asking what kind of governor allows another person to control his home structure, asserting that such a scenario proves the other person is politically superior.
Addressing the looming threat of impeachment by the Rivers State House of Assembly, the minister’s aide suggested that rather than “weeping” or complaining, the governor should adopt a more pragmatic approach to political survival.
He boldly suggested that Fubara should reconcile with Wike through total submission.
Olayinka remarked that if he were in such a position of control over a state’s structure, the wise move for any governor would be to come and “prostrate” or beg.
He noted that if the governor is wise, he should know how to navigate the situation rather than seeking public sympathy.
When questioned on whether this confirms that Wike is the mastermind behind the impeachment move, Olayinka maintained that the House of Assembly is responsible for its actions, but noted that if the governor wants the process to stop, he must recognize who holds the stronger hand.
Olayinka also alluded to the “political game” happening behind closed doors, suggesting that the public statements made by various actors, including those within the presidency, may not reflect the true reality of the situation.
He suggested that what is portrayed on television is often vastly different from the maneuvres occurring in private, adding that that while some voices may call for Wike to “back off” or resign to focus on Rivers politics, the underlying power dynamics remain unchanged and heavily skewed in favour of the FCT Minister.