HOW ₦200BN RING ROAD PROJECT LED TO WIKE, FUBARA FIGHT

 

As the political crisis plaguing Rivers State climaxed during the week, a professor of Political Economy/Development Studies and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Johnson Nna, spoke on the political crisis in the state between former governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Governor Sim Fubara.

Making comments on the resignation of some commissioners in Governor Fubara's cabinet, he said he was not surprised because majority of the commissioners in Fubara's cabinet were imposed by Wike, and that is why Wike is the one controlling the state instead of the governor. 

"It will be recalled that the Ring Road project that will gulp about N200 billion was Wike’s project. But, it was handed over to Governor Fubara to execute, while the man in charge of the project was Wike’s biological brother.

"That is just to show you the extent of the control over Fubara. So the governor’s kinsmen, having closely observed the trend, sat him down and fuelled his gun to assert his constitutional power in the state by all means."

Further talking, Nna said that due to the ongoing developments, four commissioners have already tendered their resignations from the governor's cabinet. With the situation escalating, there is a possibility that more commissioners might resign or be compelled to step down under pressure.

He alleged that the overarching strategy appears to be weakening the governor, rendering him susceptible to impeachment, and if a new government comes into power following the High Court judgment appeal and the potential impeachment of the governor, the resigned commissioners could be reinstated to their positions.

However  no one expect the Governor and his party the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to fold their hands and watch things slide to the negative for them.