The battle to control the resources of Rivers state has been in the front burner in the political crises ravaging the state since 2023 to date. In the Month of February 2024, Governor Siminalayi FUBARA came out to announce that he can now say that he is the executive Governor if Rivers State. This came after he suppressed the 27 Lawmakers who on 30th of October 2023 attempted to proceed in the impeachment process that resulted to the bombing of a section of the Rivers state House of Assembly.
Among top Rivers State Politicians are those who are supporting either Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara or Minister of FCT Abuja Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. City People Magazine Port Harcourt Bureau Chief, Emeka Amaefula here brings to you Rivers state Politicians and where they stand in the political imbroglio. …CONTINUE READING
PETER ODILI
The former Rivers State Governor Sir Dr. Peter ODILI has been a known supporter of the FCT Abuja Minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike since he assumed office in 1999 when he was elected as Chairman if OBIO/Akpor Local Government Area to the time in 2015 when he was elected as Executive Governor of Rivers State that elapsed on 29th of May,2023.
Today, the Pamo University of Medical Sciences—PUMS, Teaching Hospital complex Iriebe OBIO/ AKPOR Local Government Area if the state bears an imposing inscription Nyesom WIKE boldly written as a symbolic gesture of that political relationship where Wike started granting the sum of Five Hundred Million naira (N500m) as scholarship funding for 100 undergraduates each academic year.
Sir Dr. Peter Odili’s daughter Dr. (Mrs.) Adaeze Oreh under the administration of Sir Siminalayi Fubara is the Commissioner of Health recommended by Wike and now she be er resigned her appointment as other Commissioners nominated by Wike resigned in solidarity with their polite leader Nyesom Wike.
For Dr. Peter Odili,his daughter Dr. Mrs Oreh is still in the administration of Gov FUBARA as a symbol of his support. Today, Dr. Odili supports Gov Siminalayi Fubara100%.
FERDINAND ANABRABA
This elder statesman and financial boardroom guru Chief Ferdinand ANABRABA has been around the corner of political life of FCT Abuja Minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike being his strongest political pillar if support.
This Kalabari born politician has never left the side of Wike no matter how juicy is the offer anyone is bringing to him, he is as solid as the Rick of Gibriltar in supporting Nyesom Wike.
DESMOND AKAWOR
Among Nyesom Wike’s strongest political allies is Engr. Desmond Akawor former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea and former State Chairman of PDP in Rivers State. He was a former Director in Federal Capital Territory Development Administration, FCTDA. Ambassador Desmond Akawor was visible in the executive cabinet of Dr.Peter Odili’s administration. Currently, Wike helped to place him in one of the Federal Parastatals as Federal Commissioner. He is a stalwart supporter of Wike.
BOMA GOODHEAD
Right Honourable BOMA GOODHEAD has been a Kalabari born Lady politician who has been elected to represent her people at Federal House of Representatives for Asari Toru/ Akuku Toru Federal Constituency. He is among the leaders of Simplified Movement political Group led by Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara. Her avowed challenge of Nyesom Wike at the twilight of his administration gave him tough times while in Office.
Today, she nominated Asari Toru Local Government Area Chairman of Action People party. This is how powerful MHR BOMA GOODHEAD is in the current administration of Sir Siminalayi Fubara as she’s a grand commander in the political pressure group known as SIMPLIFIED MOVEMENT.
OCJ OKOCHA
The former National President Nigerian Bar Association NBA, Chief OCJ OKOCHA is legal luminary who is 100% a supporter of FCT Abuja Minister Nyesom WIKE. He has come out in public occasions to speak well about the position of the law in the ongoing political crisis involving Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara while advising members of the public to wait for Court’s judgement as a leveler of the Matters now before various judicial divisions across the country.
CELESTINE OMEHIA
Quiet, humble and charismatic Barrister Celestine OMEHIA a one time governor of Rivers State later quashed by Supreme Court on 25th of October 2007, is a man who in 2022 PDP presidential primary election supported the candidate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the eventual winner and party’s candidate for PDP 2023 Presidential election.
Thus, began the political enmity between the two Ikwerre ethnic nationality sons. Wike who after winning election in 2015 restored Celestine OMEHIA as Governor of Rivers State defying Supreme Court’s 2007 judgement quickly used the Rivers State House of Assembly to denounce his earlier position and had Barr Celestine Omehua’s official portrait removed frcarioys Government records as a former governor of the state as he was asked to refund all allowances and retirement benefits paid to hum as a former Governor. Today, Celestine OMEHIA supports Governor Siminalayi Fubara 100%.
TONYE BRIGGS- ONIYIDE
She is a powerful Lady who has been around political influence and power for so many years as Founder of Niger Delta Daughters political pressure group. She was twice appointed by Nyesom Wike as Commissioner of Culture and Tourism. But today,she first got appointed as Caretaker Committee Chairperson of Akuku Toru LGA and now elected under Action Peoples party -APP. She’s a great supporter of Governor Siminalayi FUBARA 100%.
MAUREEN TAMUNO
Ambassador Maureen TAMUNO is a former member of Rivers State House of Assembly a d a former member of Federal House of Representatives. Latershr was appointed as Nigeria’s Ambassador in Jamaica Republic. Amb.Maureen TAMUNO us a member of APC belonging to Tony Okocha’s faction. She supports FCT Minister 90%.
AUSTIN OPARA
The former Deputy Speaker Federal House if Representatives Chief Austin OPARA Ph.D is a mv who3ehen in public talks less but being a political juggernaut in Rivers State where he commands mfy followers has been a strong supporter if Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2022 PDP Presidential Primary election against his kinsman Nyesom Wike who contested against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the eventual PDP presidential candidate in 2023 General election.
Today, he supports Gov Siminalayi Fubara 100%.
SENATOR ALLWEL ONYESOH
Among the three senators of PDP from Rivers State in the 10th National Assembly, Distinguished Senator Allwell Onyesoh is most experienced politician. He has been a founding member if in 1998 of Restoration Family a political think Tanj of Governor Peter ODILI which he used to win the 1999 Governorship election.Chirf Allwell Onyesoh was appointed Commissioner of Education in 1999 and later Commissioner of Sports in 2003. He at a time defected to APC in 2015 but returned to PDP in 2022 where he supported Wike’s candidates in the political structure he leads. And subsequently, he was handed over the slot of Rivers East senatorial District. Today, ge supports Wike 100%.
PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS
Comings from the royal family lineage in Ikuru ancient kingdom of Andoni LGA Rivers Prince UCHE Secondus was a former state Chairman of PDP immediately late Marshall Harryoved over to All Nigerian Peoples Party ANPP in 2003. Later PRINCE Secondus was elected as National Chairman of PDP which Nyesom Wike adenit possible.
But when he started nursing the ambition of being elected President if Nigerian 2023 he forced Prince Uche Secondus to resign from office so tt a North Central party member will be recruited to replace him. Thus, he succeeded in removing Uche Secondus with Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. Wike later fought with Dr. Ayu abd replaced him with the incumbent PDP acting National Chairman Alhaji Damagun. Prince Uche Secondus is a strong supporter of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2022 PDP presidential primary election against Wike’s ambition.
The duo don’t see eye to eye politically as Prince Secondus supports Governor FUBARA 100%.
SOTONYE TOBY-FULTHON
In Rivers State politics ladies have come to show their challenge to fill in the 35 percent affirmative Action arising from the Beiging China International Women Conference. During the Wike led administration Honourable Chief Sotonye Toby-Fulton was appointed as a Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission. She is a mobilizer of women andrm men and material resources as she is the founder of Rivers Women Unite For Sim Rwus. This media owner of 29 years old *Gist Newspaper is a top investor in hospitality business in RIVERS state sd she owns Toby Jug a first class entertainment outfit in GRA phase 2, Port Harcourt. She supports Gov SIM 100% with prayer groups spread across the 319 electoral wards and 23 LGAs of Rivers State.
SERGEANT AWUSE
The Frontline Rivers State born politician and now traditional Ruler Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse is a strong supporter of FCT Abuja Minister Nyesom Wike. He has no misfeeling in speaking out in public about his most preferred political leader in PDP in Rivers State and Nyesom Wike is his choice number 1. He emerged a first Class traditional Ruler courtesy of the then Governor Wike as he quickly made Sergeant AWUSE Chairman of Traditional Council of Rivers State a position the incumbent Governor Siminalayi FUBARA immediately removed him due to political differences. Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi AWUSE of Emohua kingdom supports FCT Abuja Minister Wike 100%.
ABIYE PRECIOUS SEKIBO
The Chairman of Rivers State Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organization in 2023 Dr. Abiye Precious Sekibo is a soft spoken Rivers state born politician who has seen it all in politics being a formet Secretary To Rivers State Government under Dr Peter Odili and later appointed Minister of Trransportation. He supports Gov FUBARA having come out in public to announce the collapse of Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Organization into the PDP in Rivers State led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Therefore, he supports FUBARA 100%.
IPALIBO HARRY BANIGO
The former Deputy Governor of Rivers State under Nyesom Wike Dr. IPALIBO HARRY BANIGO is now Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial zone in the 10th National Assembly. She’s a loyal follower of her boss and Leader Nyesom Wike for 100%.
SENATOR BARRY IMPIGI
One of the oldest serving federal lawmakers in Nigeria is Distinguished Senator BARRY IMPIGI representing Rivers South East senatorial District having first been elected a House of Representatives member now twice a Senator. He was Tai LGA Chairman along side Nyesom WIKE in this nascent democratic dispensation. In 2015 he supported Wike’s Governorship ambition which materialized as he was elevated to the Senate replacing Senator Lee Meaba. Senator BARRY Mpigi is a fanatical supporter of Nyesom Wike.
KINGSLEY O.CHINDA
He is the Federal House pf Representatives Minority Leader in the 10th National Assembly. Kingsley Chinda, doesn’t miss words when talking about Nyesom Wike, his political leader in Rivers State since 1999 to date he hasn’t defected to any other political party but a strong member of PDP. He supports Wike 100%.
ISOBO JACK
Port Harcourt most celebrated Hospitality investor and former owner of Bootlegger’s Night Club, Honourable ISOBO JACK a former Commissioner of Environment and former Sole Administrator Rivers State Waste Management Agency RIWAMA is now a serving member of the Governorning Council of Dr. Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ebonyi state. He supports WIKE 100%.
● Source: citypeopleonline
READ ALSO
REVEALED: Atiku Urge To Work With Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Gambari To Unseat Tinubu in 2027
