Akpabio Attacks Fubara For Condemning Struggle For Power During Wigwe’s Burial

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was in his full element on Saturday night in Rivers State when he rose to defend FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, over an admonition offered by Siminalayi Fubara, the state governor, that nothing is worth struggling for in life, during the burial rites of late Access Bank Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe.

Wigwe was interred on Saturday alongside his wife and son following a helicopter crash in the US.

It became an occasion for who is who in politics in the country to take centre stage ahead of business moguls, captains of industry, associates and friends of the bereaved family to bid farewell to a man, who from obscurity, helped to establish one of the biggest banks in Africa.

But despite the free flow of tears and sombre mood, Akpabio, often accused of being garrulous, decided to scold the bereaved governor over a word of admonition that nothing is worth struggling for.

Fubara had taken the podium and said, “This one has to do with our political class, what are all these troubles all about.

“You want to kill, You want to bury, what is it all about?”

But Akpabio, who is never shy of taking the limelight lept immediately to issue a rebuttal, a sense that Fubara was referring to his fight with Wike over the control of the state.

Akpabio’s attack is dominating the social media with Nigerians accusing him of taking a fight that was never his.

Akpabio said, “What is the struggle all about? I will answer you.

“The struggle, we are not talking politics. In 2006 I wanted to be a Deputy Governor, so the then deputy Governor invited me and told me that this office has no money, there is nothing in it. I don’t know why you still insist on moving me from here and take me over.

“So the woman who went with me, said ‘your excellency, then don’t wait for impeachment, just resign since there’s nothing in it’.

“And he stood up and started punching the woman, and I told him, your excellency, don’t punch her, she’s telling the truth. There’s nothing in the office that’s why I want it, because you’re too big for it.

“So your excellency Governor Fubara, if there’s nothing in the struggle, don’t struggle.”

The former Minister of the Niger Delta who’s in the eye of the storm that he has an explanation to make over allegation that the 2024 Budget was padded, is a known ally of Fubara ‘s predecessor, Wike.

Both Fubara and Wike are struggling for control of Rivers politics, the struggle which has snowballed into a full blown crisis, that despite the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, has defied solution.

The governor a few days ago said he could abdicate his position as governor if that would bring peace to the state.