President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has said there is nothing wrong with Governor Siminalayi Fubara defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), if it helps resolve the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Okaba responded to speculations following Fubara’s recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.
“There’s nothing wrong about that,” he said. “At this point, we must be realistic and understand the nature of Nigerian politics. We don’t have political parties in the real sense anymore—what we operate is a ‘malutocracy.’ These are just platforms for political contestation, where individuals oscillate from one place to another.”
He noted that it’s not uncommon for governors and high-ranking politicians to switch parties for strategic reasons, sometimes threatening subordinates with consequences if they do not follow suit.
Okaba also referenced Governor Fubara’s earlier statement expressing his willingness to do whatever it takes to restore peace to Rivers State.
President Bola Tinubu had on March 18 declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly for six months. He also appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state’s administrator to oversee governance during the period.
