Rivers state governor Siminalaye Fubara was absent at a luncheon hosted by his predecessor Nyeson Wine in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Sunday
His absence left many to wonder if the two men will ever become friends again
The crisis between the two men prompted the intervention of president Bola Tinubu but the relationship hitherto shared by the two men cannot be said to have returned
While Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was present at the luncheon with many of his allies, Fubara and his men both in the House of Assembly and the two other organs of government were conspicuously absent.
It was not clear whether the Wike camp invited Fubara and his men but the governor and his people were not present and it was not mentioned that they sent in delegates.
Some of Wike’s men present include Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, as well as 24 other lawmakers who had cross-carpeted with him from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also in attendance at the event were ex-governors in the PDP G5 — Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Also, Zacchaeus Adangor, George-Kelly Alabo and some other commissioners in Wike’s camp who resigned from Fubara’s cabinet last month in the heat of the crisis were at the Sunday luncheon.
Others include the Chairman of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, Senator Barinada Mpigi from Rivers South East, Kelechi Nwogu from Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency, ex-Speaker Rivers Assembly, Awaji Igbani.
The ex-commissioner for works
Alabo threw several jabs at Fubara saying, “As a principled politician, we believe that every river that forgets its source runs dry.”
“You pulled your machinery and told all generals to go to the trenches and go to work and deliver this candidate whether we like this candidate or not.
“We moved to the field and delivered the result. Your excellency, that same machinery is still alive.
Alabo and his colleagues saluted Tinubu for his intervention in the crisis in the state, saying his position was satisfactory.
On Saturday, Wike sounded tough when he said Rivers people would know who is in charge of the state at the appropriate time.
