The leadership style of Rivers State Governor, Siminilayi Fubara has been criticized by Engineer Chukwuemeka Woke, the Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), accusing the Rivers State Governor of political “hypocrisy” and divisiveness, condemning his failure to foster transparency and unity in governance.
Woke’s remarks which was made at a press conference held in Port Harcourt recently, center on Fubara’s recent condemnation of live coverage for project flag-offs and inaugurations—an approach embraced by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
Less than a year ago, Fubara had labeled such broadcasts “a sheer waste,” claiming they incurred costs greater than the projects themselves. However, Woke pointed out that Fubara has since reversed his stance, broadcasting his own project inaugurations, despite many barely meeting the threshold for local relevance.
“This blatant about-face smacks of hypocrisy,” Woke stated, “and it highlights a deeper issue: the governor’s inability to rise above pettiness and acknowledge the merits of good governance. Instead of embracing transparency, he seems intent on suppressing it, which raises questions about his commitment to accountability.”
Fubara’s leadership style, according to Woke, further reveals a troubling tendency towards authoritarianism. The governor, in a recent commissioning ceremony for a school project in Ahoada, acknowledged that the project was awarded during Wike’s administration but chose not to cancel the contract for contractors he personally knew. In a sharp contrast, Fubara swiftly terminated a road contract, labeling the contractor an “enemy of the state” simply for refusing to support his political agenda.
“Such behavior embodies a man who projects an image of victimhood while, in reality, he wields the sledgehammer himself,” Woke observed, pointing out that this vindictiveness undermines the rule of law and democracy.
Woke emphasized that Fubara’s disregard for collaboration with former allies reveals a dangerous inclination towards division rather than unity. “Leadership should elevate and unite, not divide and belittle,” Woke stated, adding that good governance is not about creating enemies, but about recognizing the contributions of all those who seek to build a better Rivers State.
For a leader who campaigned on the promise of “continuity and consolidation,” Woke found it absurd that Fubara would undermine the very foundation of his political rise by seeking to destroy the progress made by his predecessors.
“The people of Rivers State deserve a leader who respects the legacies of those who came before him and works to build upon them,” Woke concluded. “If Fubara continues down this path, he risks alienating the citizens he swore to serve and cementing his legacy as a leader more interested in settling scores than in promoting real progress,” he added.
