A media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, has criticized Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s leadership style, citing his inability to secure the support of at least 12 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly after two years in office. Olayinka made the comments in a post on his official Facebook page, where he compared Fubara’s situation to that of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.
According to Olayinka, when Fayose took office in 2014, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had only one seat in the state House of Assembly. However, Fayose was able to gain the support of several lawmakers from the opposing party, increasing the PDP’s representation to seven members, with two additional lawmakers working with him unofficially. This allowed Fayose to achieve a quorum in the assembly, which requires nine members to conduct business.
In contrast, Olayinka noted that Governor Fubara has struggled to gain the support of lawmakers in his own state, despite having a larger assembly. With 32 members in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Fubara needs the support of at least 12 lawmakers to achieve a majority. However, he currently has the support of only a few lawmakers, and recently appointed one of his supporters as Chief of Staff, reducing his numbers in the assembly.
Olayinka’s comments highlight the challenges facing Governor Fubara as he navigates the complex political landscape of Rivers State. The governor’s inability to secure the support of lawmakers has hindered his ability to effectively govern the state and pass key legislation. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Fubara will respond to these challenges and whether he will be able to build the support he needs to succeed in office. The developments in Rivers State are being closely watched by political observers, who are keen to see how the situation will play out in the coming weeks and months.
