Rufai Oseni has claimed that Fubara has been ‘whipped back in line’ amid Rivers political crisis.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni has accused political elites of prioritising personal interests over the welfare of Rivers State residents following Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s latest political moves.
Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni has said Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been “whipped back in line” amid renewed political developments involving the governor and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.
Oseni made the remark on Wednesday during Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he argued that the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State was driven by personal interests rather than the welfare of residents.
His comments followed developments at the unveiling of the Rainbow Coalition’s candidates in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, where Fubara presented the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag to Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, an ally of Wike, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.
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The governor also acknowledged Wike as the political leader in Rivers State and urged those who had described him as their leader during the political crisis to stop doing so.
Reacting to the development, Oseni said Fubara, who had previously been involved in a political struggle to assert his independence from godfatherism, had been forced to return to the existing political arrangement.
“Fubara has been whipped back in line, and it is all about their interest and not the people of Rivers State,” Oseni said.
The broadcaster questioned the motives behind the reconciliation efforts and peace moves being celebrated by political stakeholders, arguing that they were primarily intended to serve the interests of political elites.
According to Oseni, the negotiations were less about addressing the challenges confronting ordinary residents and more about how political power and resources would be shared among influential figures.
He maintained that the people of Rivers State were the ultimate losers in the political contest, alleging that their welfare and interests had been sidelined.
The political crisis in Rivers State has been characterised by tensions between Fubara and Wike, whose relationship has remained a major issue in the state’s political landscape.
Oseni’s latest remarks add to public commentary surrounding the governor’s recent political decisions and the implications of the evolving relationship between the two political figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
