One of the most difficult things for a Nigerian politician to do is to align with unfavourable realities. That is why you see us litigating endlessly and hoping without end. We like to think that the dead can rise again if we push hard enough, but that’s not possible. We enrich media contractors and lawyers while our real constituents and supporters suffer, because we like to delude ourselves.

I have a personal sympathy for Fubara, and I wanted him to win. I like the fact that he raised a new class of leaders, mostly, young people, and I didn’t want to see those people crashing down as quickly as they arose. I don’t also fancy the idea that one person, a former governor, should put an entire State in his back pockets and determine what happens. Wike should leave Rivers State alone, because Rivers governorship is not an inheritance. He was helped to power and I doubt if he allowed those who help him to power to treat him as a puppet. He asserted his authority, and should allow the person he helped to power to also exercise the power.

I also know that Fubara has sustained some of my brothers and friends from Imo State, even though, I am politically estranged to them, I was happy they are getting a deep dip from the oil wealth of Rivers. Well, I do not need you to believe it, but I am a staunch progressive. I like to see people smile, but not at the detriment of the masses. I feel happy when oppressors are given their own kind of tea.

It is easy to understand that I am not one of the happiest people with the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement on the Rivers political crisis, but one does not need to be a lawyer to appreciate the impartiality of that judgement. That judgement is as best as it can be. It might not have made any political sense to me, but it makes legal sense, and no matter the euphemisms anyone might want to employ, the reality is that there are already losers and winners. Fubara’s camp has lost and Wike’s camp has won. We have to accept this reality before we can make any good step forward.

This recent judgement should afford the two Parties an opportunity to prove their love and loyalty to Rivers State and commitment to the welfare of the people. Like Fubara admitted in his broadcast, there have been mistakes on both sides of the political aisles. But it won’t be enough, conceding that there have been mistakes, steps must be taken to correct these mistakes, going forward, and I will recommend three ways to achieving peace and stability in that State;

The first step towards achieving peace is for the governor to recognise the speakership of Amaewhule and accord him all the respect and entitlements he deserves as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He has to start from representing the 2025 Appropriation proposal to the full House and seeking their approval. On the part of Amaewhule, he has to show respect to the office of the governor by not trying to belittle the governor through questionable and controversial legislative pronouncements, including, vetoing certain orders. To start with, the bill attempting to extend the tenure of LGA chairpersons indefinitely must be quashed. Fubara should be allowed to conduct fresh LGA election in the State and interests of leaders should be accommodated.

Secondly, former LGA chairpersons led by Anosike should not be allowed anywhere close to the LGA secretariats. The judgment of the Supreme Court did not recognise their tenure as still subsisting. They should file in their papers to recontest if they are interested, but any effort to impose them on these LGAs would be a recipe for more crisis and it should be avoided.

Governor Fubara must not be humiliated by the Rivers State House of Assembly or Wike’s allies. He should be allowed to complete the four year tenure given to him by Rivers electorate. Wike can take a pound of political flesh in 2027 by refusing to support him, but any attempt to impeach him now will likely throw the State into avoidable violent crisis because Fubara seems to have enamoured himself to the people of Rivers, or at least a substantial majority of them. Trying to impeach him would be seen as a political vendetta and will be resisted by the people.

President Bola Tinubu should convene another peace meeting between the major actors and advise for peace. Wike must not be reconciled to Fubara nor must Amaewhule become a Fubara ally, but it is important for all the key players to subsume their personal grievances and loyalties for the interest of peace and Rivers development and stability.

All eyes will be on Amaewhule to know if he would use his powers and office to advance personal and cabal vendetta or if he will work for the peace and progress of the State.