Alhaji Asari Dokubo, a prominent Niger Delta activist, is making headlines after issuing a stark warning to Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State, to stay out of the state’s political affairs.
Dokubo also took aim at President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of giving Wike undue influence, which he claims is fueling ongoing political tensions in Rivers State.
In a fiery statement, Dokubo revealed that Wike’s helicopters were flying over his residence, hinting at intimidation tactics. Unfazed, Dokubo declared that even the federal government is aware that he can “contain” Wike’s threats, boldly stating that he could shoot down the helicopters and face no consequences. “I’m not afraid of death,” Dokubo asserted, underlining his readiness to confront any perceived threat head-on.
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His comments come amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, following the October 5th local government elections. The election was marred by violence and controversy, as the current governor, Siminalayi Fubara, sought to wrest control from Wike’s grip on the state’s political machinery.
Wike, who previously dominated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, had a strong influence over local government area (LGA) chairmen. In response, Fubara urged his loyalists to decamp to the Action Peoples Party (APP), recognizing that Wike’s control over the PDP could obstruct his plans.
In the lead-up to the election, PDP forces reportedly used court orders, police interventions, and ballot snatching to disrupt the process and prevent the election from taking place. Despite these efforts, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) announced on Saturday that APP had won 22 of the 23 available chairmanship seats across the state, cementing Fubara’s control over local politics.
The election outcome, however, did not come without violence, as many had predicted. The All Progressives Congress (APC) had previously warned that the elections could incite unrest, a forecast that proved accurate as reports of violent incidents plagued the polls.
Asari Dokubo’s sharp criticism of the political maneuvers in Rivers, along with his controversial remarks targeting the Igbos—whom he referred to as “cowards” in the ongoing tussle between Wike and Fubara—has added fuel to the fire. His involvement in the conversation has further intensified the already fragile political landscape in Rivers State.
The Fubara-Wike rift and the fallout from the elections are expected to continue shaping the political dynamics in the region, with Dokubo’s latest outburst stirring more reactions and uncertainty about the future of leadership in the state.
