For the second time, photos and videos showed Gov Sim Fubara of Rivers State (now suspended) and his godfather Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, sauntering out of Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power, clutching peace tablet in their hands.

Yet, just like the first time, it didn’t elicit jubilation back in Rivers State. Those happy about it, who are usually from the Wike camp, usually stay calm about it. Those not happy, usually from Fubara camp, usually speak pessimistically about everything. That is where the problem starts.

Whereas Wike may be welcomed home into warm embrace of his supporters, Fubara usually returns the hard place where maybe only the wife would perfectly understand and congratulate him.

Fubara soon affer going into suspension, was said to have met with Wike in Abuja and later President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in London. Soon after, two things happened. Fubara began to distance himself from his support base, the Simplified, even making remarks that indicated that they rather were making thing difficult for him. Every person around him quickly reclined.

Next, Wike began to say he was not quarreling with his political son (Fubara) but with those around him and some of the henchmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While that lasted, the side of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State loyal to him led by Tony Okocha, kept pelting and deriding Fubara, and even told him openly his sins would never be forgiven even if he joined the party.

The first cause anxiety amongst the neutrals and the Simplied groups was those who attended the Aso Rock second peace mission, just as they said the first one did not involve some important Rivers elders and leaders.

The Fubara camp mostly made up of elders of the state rose against the eight-point agreement and some even sued Mr President who had threatened sanctions should anybody recant.

At the end of it all, the Supreme Court dealt a big blow to Fubara, making many to remember the threat from the Aso Rock landlord. Emboldened what they seemed to know, the 27 lawmakers now waxed stronger and refused to collect the 2025 budget proposal from the governor. They seemed to stage a stalemate that opened the door for State of Emergency.

The lawmakers were suspended together with the governor (and deputy) but the body language of the lawmakers showed that they had nothing to lose in it. They went back to their Abuja base, and even toured the United Kingdom (UK) in their status as lawmakers saying it was holiday duty. By that, it was clear that only the governor (with his deputy) was on suspension. Unconfirmed sources even whispered that they were on a payroll. It was clear that the sanctions came and the guilty party was clear.

Now, the 2nd peace mission to Aso Rock has taken place and this time, Fubara went alone, lonelier than the first time.

Many again picked up the composition of the peace team as the major danger signal. Social media gave their names apart from FCT minister and governor as Olaka Nwogu, Tony Okocha, Chibudom Nwuche, Magnus Abe, Fernand Anabraba, George Sekibo, Barry Mpigi, Martin Amaewhule, Major Jack l, Allwell Onyesoh, Victor Giadom, Kenneth Kobani, Kingsley Chinda, and PDP chairman Rivers State Chukwuemeka Aaron. They claim none is a Fuabara backer. They say by this, Fubara is back to the political womb that incubated him and bore him into Brick House in Port Harcourt.

The next is the bandying of what they claim to be the terms of reconciliation but there has been no official confirmation, but they seem to be what were being bandied in the social media all this while.

Read also: Tinubu may lift Rivers State emergency rule soon as President meets Fubara, Wike, others

Each time anybody claimed to have held talks with Wike, they would claim he insisted on Fubara will be reinstated to complete his four-year tenure but must forgo any plans to seek a second term in 2027; Wike would be allowed to nominate all the local government chairpersons across the 23 LGAs of the state; Fubara to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike who were suspended from the state assembly; in return, the lawmakers will not initiate any impeachment proceedings against him.

As Fubara’s base seethes in anger, some persons have argued that power game was no mean matter. Livingstone Wechie, the Ikwerre-born Rivers State chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, who is a strong social and political activist, said on his social media handles that people must understand the dilemma Fubara faced.

He was quoted by D’MOMA news thus: “We must understand that contemporary politics is changing and this is global. Reality now no matter what anyone thinks is that H.E. Wike has dispensed himself as the strong man of Rivers politics in his time. On the side of Gov. Sim, he has demonstrated an unusual art of stopping to conquer and realign so the journey can continue.

“If you call Sim mumu, then you are the real mumu because you don’t know the value of power. If you call him betrayal, then you are hypocritical.

“While this reported settlement unfolds, let’s strive to set an agenda for governance in our dear state. Nobody should feel left out; however, the younger generation must sit up and start plotting their spot and slots in the equation going forward.”

Nobody close to Fubara wants to say anything. They only shrug their shoulders and say they were not in the picture.

Some outspoken neutrals say if Fubara dared to destroy good governance in the name of peace deal, he would be the one to find how to face the ordinary people who look up to him to deliver dividends of democracy. Others however say no dividend of democracy can be delivered in a state of chaos and anomie.

A source told BusinessDay its up to the ordinary people and the Simplified camp to choose between an impeached Fubara or a captured Sim.