Rivers Crisis: Wike, Fubara Should Step Aside for New Hands — Kenneth Okonkwo (Video)
- Says Duo Can’t Hold Rivers to Ransom Over a Broken Political Agreement
Former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2023 general election, Kenneth Okonkwo, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to step aside if they cannot resolve their lingering political crisis, warning that the feud is endangering the welfare and security of Rivers people.
Speaking during an interview with Symphony posted on Tuesday, Okonkwo described the Rivers crisis as a reflection of what he termed the inevitable implosion within the All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that the political arrangement involving Wike and Fubara was fundamentally flawed.
Rivers Crisis: Wike, Fubara Should Step Aside for New Hands —Kenneth Okonkwo (Video)
…..Says Duo Can’t Hold Rivers to Ransom Over a Broken Political Agreement
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🎥 Symfoni pic.twitter.com/X0810nCq24— Osun Defender (@OsunDefender) January 13, 2026
“What is happening in Rivers State is symptomatic of what is happening in APC—the failed political party,” he said. “I told Nigerians that they will implode. A child born today will tell you that two captains cannot command a ship.”
He accused the APC of creating confusion in Rivers State by empowering two rival political figures simultaneously.
According to him, “APC took Wike and made him 001 PDP in Rivers State, and then went ahead to take Fubara and made him 001 of APC. You cannot run a state like that.”
Okonkwo further reiterated his long-held position that both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC are indistinguishable in practice, describing them as “two heads of the same monster.”
He said, “I told Nigerians that PDP and APC are two heads of a monster—what I call PD-APC, which Tinubu openly propounded during his 2023 campaign. He is now trying to unify PDP and APC, but that will only cause implosion because you don’t put old wine in a new wineskin.”
Reacting to claims of an existing political agreement between Wike and Fubara, Okonkwo dismissed its relevance, arguing that such agreements lose validity once political allegiance changes.
“If Fubara made any agreement with you in PDP and APC came and gave him a new agreement, that former agreement can no longer stand because he is no longer with the same party or the same people,” he stated.
Drawing from legal principles, the lawyer-turned-politician added that agreements entered under pressure lack legitimacy. “When you enter into a contract by coercion, there is no consent. Whatever agreement they claim to have is not my concern. My primary concern is the welfare and security of Rivers people,” he said.
Okonkwo accused both camps of misusing state power against the people they were elected to serve.
“They should stop using the resources and power of Rivers State against Rivers people. What Wike and Fubara are doing is not working for the safety and welfare of the people,” he said.
He concluded by calling for decisive action if the crisis persists. “If they can’t get their act together, let them step aside. Fubara and Wike should step aside. If they can’t agree, new people should come and take charge of Rivers State. How can a godfather and a godson not agree while the people suffer?” Okonkwo said, urging Rivers residents to seek political alternatives, adding, “The solution is simple—vote ADC and vote out your problem.”
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
