President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, has weighed in on the political tension in Rivers State, stating that there’s absolutely nothing wrong if Governor Siminalayi Fubara decides to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) especially if it helps restore peace and order in the state.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Prof. Okaba made a bold assertion about Nigeria’s current political culture. “Let’s be realistic,” he said. “What we have isn’t party politics—it’s a ‘malutocracy’, where people jump from one platform to another based on personal or strategic interests.”
Okaba’s comment comes amid speculation following Fubara’s recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos. He also highlighted Fubara’s past statement about being ready to do whatever it takes to ensure stability in the oil-rich state.
This comes after President Tinubu’s dramatic declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, which included the suspension of the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected State Assembly members. Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas was then appointed as interim administrator.