Fubara loyalist Speaks On Joining Wike’s Camp
A former staunch defender of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Chijioke Ihunwo, has explained why he is now working with the Rainbow Coalition aligned with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The former caretaker chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area disclosed this in an interview on TVC programme, Beyond the Headlines on Thursday, months after twice appearing on the same programme to accuse Wike’s camp of trying to destabilise Rivers State.
“You are aware that my principal is the Governor of Rivers State, and he has said there is peace in Rivers State and that we need to move on as a state. If we truly support him, we should join him in the Rainbow Coalition,” Ihunwo said.
He added that his loyalty remained with Fubara regardless of the political realignment.
“We are supporting our governor because we want peace in our state. He is our leader and we are going to follow him wherever he goes,” Ihunwo said.
He said the governor’s own appeal to his loyalists left him with no choice but to comply.
“He has told us that if you love me genuinely, follow me. So, we are following the governor to where he is going,” he said.
Asked whether he and other allies gave the governor bad political advice that deepened the crisis, as claimed by Wike in a recent interview, Ihunwo dismissed the allegation.
“That is not true. I have a personal relationship with the governor,” he said.
He explained that he mobilised youths for Fubara during the 2023 governorship primary while serving as the youth leader in the state.
“We are still men with conscience because I have met with him and dealt with him before now. Let me tell you, I have a force in this state whether you like it or not because I command young people,” Ihunwo said.
He argued that the political realignment should not be read as a defeat for anyone involved.
“For me, nobody is a loser and nobody is a winner. We are back to where we are because this state belongs to all of us and the governor wants to tow the line of peace,” Ihunwo said.
Pressed on whether his past accusations against Wike’s camp were wrong, or whether his current position was the inconsistent one, Ihunwo said political alliances were fluid.
“My brother, let me tell you, in politics anything can happen. I have a principal who I am working with. He has said, ‘Let us sheathe our swords and move forward,” he said.
Ihunwo also rejected claims by the Rivers State Chairman of the National Youth Council that he should publicly apologise to Wike, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martin Chinda, and the assembly for his conduct during the crisis.
“I don’t even know the person you are talking about. The only chairman of the youth council I know is Comrade Ambassador Abos. The person you are referring to is an impostor,” he said.
He further denied allegations that he and a former Chief of Staff to the governor, Edison Ehie, sponsored a parallel youth council structure to weaken the recognised leadership during the crisis.
On claims that he led supporters to a residence where 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike were meeting, an incident that allegedly endangered the legislators, Ihunwo declined to address the specifics.
“When we talk about peace, we don’t begin to bring back the past. A lot of things happened during that period, but I have forgotten the past and we are moving forward,” he said.
Ihunwo said he had no regrets about his role during the crisis, adding that he acted based on his convictions at the time.
He said, “Frankly speaking, I do not regret anything. What I did, I was supposed to do at that time. I was youth leader in Rivers State and the question was: what was the offence of the governor?”
He said he would now work with Wike’s supporters in Obio/Akpor ahead of the 2027 general elections, in line with instructions from the governor.
“My leader has instructed us to work to ensure that the Rainbow Coalition succeeds in Rivers State. We know ourselves politically, so we will resolve our issues among ourselves,” Ihunwo said.
Responding to accusations that he had betrayed his principles, Ihunwo maintained that his allegiance to the governor left him no choice, adding that he had turned down opportunities to seek elective office on his own.
“I can go to ADC, PDP or any other party and pick a ticket to run for election, but I am not interested because that would amount to causing more crisis for my principal. My loyalty lies with the governor of Rivers State, and I will follow his instructions,” he said.
