Elder Celestine Akpobari, an environmental rights activist, has accused Lagos State of deliberately hindering the development of Rivers State by sponsoring political conflicts to maintain its economic dominance.
Akpobari made the allegation during a town hall meeting themed “Need for Peace in Rivers State” held in Port Harcourt on Friday.
He argued that Lagos benefits from Rivers State’s underdevelopment, claiming the state does not want Rivers to become a competitor. However, he noted that this rivalry has inadvertently fostered competition and accountability in governance.
Commenting on the political crisis between former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara, Akpobari said the feud has driven development in the state.
“The quarrel between Governor Sim and Wike should continue. When I look at the number of people that are with Wike and the number of people that are with Sim, I imagine; if all of them were together and sucking from the same soup, taking Rivers money, imagine how much that would have gone. But, what is happening now for the first time; Wike struggling so much to empower people from his own side. Sim is also struggling to empower a lot of people tied to his neck in that case there will be a competition between the two of them to drive development,” he said.
Akpobari further cautioned that if the political tensions are not resolved before the next general election, they could escalate into armed conflict. He also alleged that 90% of the state’s resources since the administration of Dr. Peter Odili have been used to sponsor national political interests.
