Rivers: I Know That Fubara’s Case Has Been A Very Bad One, But He Got Himself Into It - Otubanjo

In an interview on Arise TV, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, during his speech, Professor Femi Otubanjo of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs discussed the current political situation in Rivers State and the scandals involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara's connections to influential state politicians.

During their conversation, Otubanjo admitted that Fubara had been through a rough patch politically in the past few months, particularly since he dropped out of the APC governorship primary. On the other hand, he maintained that the governor was complicit in setting the stage for events that worked against him.

Speaking during the interview, Otubanjo stated, “I know that Fubara’s case has been a very bad one, but he got himself into it.”

He explained that Fubara initially benefited from the same political structure that later became the source of his challenges.

The political analyst claims that the governor of Rivers state knowingly entered into a power structure that gave a small number of people disproportionate control.

He made the observation that Fubara found it challenging to retain command of the political apparatus that had propelled him to prominence once disputes arose inside that framework.

According to Otubanjo, this incident is emblematic of a larger problem in Nigerian politics: the over-reliance on party institutions and political godfathers by many politicians. Conflicts arise in such arrangements, he said, whenever people's political or personal interests clash.

Fubara continues to enjoy widespread public support in Rivers State, according to the professor, even if the crisis is far from over. He contended that some citizens would see the governor as a casualty of the ruling APC's internal strife.

Otubanjo went on to say that the political coalitions that form in the run-up to the 2027 elections could be shaped by what happens in Rivers State, especially if the opposition is able to woo APC unhappy politicians.

In his final remarks, he emphasised that the future of Rivers State's political stability is highly dependent on the upcoming months' ability of party leaders and stakeholders to resolve their disputes.