Ikenga Chibike, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has shed light on the ongoing political crisis rocking the state, calling for unity and peace-building. Speaking at News Central’s Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, Chibike traced the roots of the crisis to elite domination and zero-sum politics.
“In every part of the world, you have those elites… whether they’re in the business community, they’re in politics… they control the politics of the place,” Chibike noted, emphasising how a small group’s interests have driven instability.
He argued that the power struggle in Rivers emerged from “zero-sum game politics, where if you win, every other person from the state is kicked out.” This exclusionary approach, he said, ignores the need for inclusiveness and consensus that healthy governance requires.
Referring to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s rise, Chibike admitted:
“There were persons who met on the edges of political parties to protect their own interests… and they succeeded in putting a governor, Siminalayi Fubara.”
Chibike, though a member of APC, acknowledged that ethnic divisions had exacerbated the crisis:
“Political disagreements… were supposed to be handled politically. But ethnic bigots started making ethnic rhetoric that led to division.”
He expressed a strong desire for Rivers State to move past such divisions:
“Rivers State is one people… We are friends. We are brothers. But we are pursuing political interests.”
Chibike emphasised the need for inclusivity in governance, insisting that leadership should serve everyone regardless of political affiliation:
“You are in charge of a government which provides for those who supported you, those who refused to support you, those who are even neutral.”
He also warned against ignoring those who helped build the structure that brought any leader into office:
“Those who worked must be respected. They must benefit from their hard work. These are the issues.”
Looking ahead, Chibike welcomed recent moves by political leaders in Rivers to de-escalate tensions. He praised Governor Fubara’s recent call for calm:
“He took a step further by telling some of his supporters, ‘Look, your actions are jeopardising the peace process.’ I think that all of us should get into the peace process and have our state back.”
His remarks come amid a broader effort to stabilise Rivers State following months of political turmoil and suspensions.
