Rivers crisis mirrors protracted Middle East conflicts, says Shehu Sani

Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has described the lingering political feud in Rivers State as similar to the long-running crises in the Middle East, noting that the conflict often resurfaces just when it appears resolved.

Sani made the remark on Tuesday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, reacting to renewed political tensions surrounding Rivers State politics.

According to him, the hostilities in Rivers have become cyclical. “Rivers political hostilities are like the crisis in the Middle East; whenever you think it’s over, it re-emerges in another form,” he said.

His comment followed fresh disagreements within the All Progressives Congress (APC) over recent developments in the state, marked by sharp exchanges involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Victor Giadom.

The latest controversy centres on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, a move that has intensified internal party debates.

Wike and Fubara have been locked in a prolonged political rivalry, widely seen as a struggle for control of political influence and resources in Rivers State.

The renewed tension has further exposed divisions within the APC in the South-South, raising concerns about party cohesion ahead of future political contests.