The ongoing political crisis in Rivers State took a dramatic turn on Monday as rival supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, organized separate demonstrations across different parts of the state.
While pro-Fubara supporters marched in solidarity with the governor, Wike’s loyalists—including reinstated lawmakers—held counter-protests, openly mocking Fubara’s recent political struggles.
Pro-Fubara Demonstrations: “No Sim, No Network” Slogans Take Over the Streets
In various local government areas, Governor Fubara’s supporters took to the streets, waving banners and chanting slogans that signaled their unwavering support for his administration.
Videos circulating on social media captured scenes of demonstrators passionately chanting, “Big man na big man, e no dey by size,”—a phrase interpreted as a show of defiance and resilience by Fubara’s camp amid the ongoing political battle.
In Eleme Local Government Area, a large crowd of enthusiastic youths mounted motorcycles and sang a popular Ijaw solidarity song, incorporating a new chant:
“No Sim, no network, Eleme is for Sim 100 per cent. Run o if you see us, hide your face. This one no be blue film, we dey play dey play, our face dey show, No Sim, no network.”
The chant, referencing the governor by his nickname “Sim,” was widely seen as a symbolic message of loyalty to his leadership. Supporters also praised Brain Gokpa, the outgoing Eleme LGA chairman, reaffirming their allegiance to Fubara’s administration.
Pro-Wike Camp Fires Back, Mocks Governor Over Political Decisions
Meanwhile, supporters of Wike and the reinstated lawmakers held separate rallies aimed at taunting Governor Fubara, particularly over his series of dismissals of government officials.
One viral video showed a group of pro-Wike youths marching through the streets, chanting sarcastically:
“Every time you dey sack this, sack that, now how far?”
This was a direct jab at the governor’s sweeping political changes, including his dismissal of local government chairmen and restructuring within the state administration.
Political Showdown Deepens Division in Rivers State
The rival protests highlight the deepening rift between the two political camps, further fueling the battle for supremacy in Rivers State’s leadership.
While Fubara’s supporters argue that he is standing firm against political oppression, the pro-Wike faction views his leadership style as unstable and reactionary.
With both sides unwilling to back down, the political landscape in Rivers State remains highly volatile, raising concerns about potential escalation in the coming weeks.
