Chai, Dis Politicians Self! When The People Fight, The Politicians Reconcile -By Isaac Asabor

If there is one lesson the average Nigerian should learn from the recent reconciliation between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his erstwhile political godfather, Chief Nyesom Wike, it is that politicians are never truly enemies. Yes, they quarrel, they shout, they flex political muscles, and sometimes they even exchange dirty blows through loyalists. But at the end of the day, they always find a way to “settle”, especially when it benefits them. The rest of us? Well, we are often left looking like the unfortunate pawns on their chessboard.

Let us call it what it is: “political drama”. And the latest episode played out in Rivers State has once again confirmed that the beef, the brawls, the bad blood we see between politicians are often only skin-deep. The real tragedy is that it is the ordinary people, the masses, who take sides, curse each other, and sometimes even shed blood for the sake of these same politicians, who, unlike their supporters, know how to settle behind closed doors.

Now, let us set the scene. The political hostility between Governor Fubara and Minister Nyesom Wike had, for months, dominated the headlines. Their fall-out had all the makings of a political blockbuster: betrayal, power tussle, godfatherism gone sour, and verbal showdowns. Both sides dug in. Supporters lined up like loyal foot soldiers, throwing mud on social media, organizing rallies, tearing up relationships, and in some cases, creating enmity within communities. Even in beer parlors and market stalls, folks were choosing sides: “Na Fubara I dey support oh!” “Wike na him get Rivers politics!” It was serious. Or so we thought.

Then, boom. News breaks that they are now meeting in Wike’s house.Reconciliation is on the table. The governor is even publicly thanking President Bola Tinubu for salvaging the state from political anarchy. Wait, did we hear that right? So all the battles, the drama, the finger-pointing were just temporary?

Let us be blunt: some people are not happy with this peace. Why? Because they invested emotionally in the feud. They picked sides and fought tooth and nail to defend their preferred politician. Now, they feel betrayed. And who can blame them? It is like watching your two favorite wrestlers exchange blows in the ring, only to see them laughing and clinking beer bottles backstage.

We have seen this before. In fact, it is a pattern as old as Nigerian politics itself. Political opponents who once called each other thieves, thugs, and misfits eventually sit at the same table, smiling and shaking hands. What happens to the people who were shouting on their behalf? Nothing. No compensation, no apology. Just silence.

Do you remember the dramatic face-off between President Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar? Or the bitter war of words between Bola Tinubu and General Buhari before 2015? How about Amaechi and Wike in the early days? In every case, reconciliation eventually came, usually quietly, without fanfare, and often away from the cameras. And the lesson? They always find a way to reconcile when it suits them.

Now, do not get this twisted. Reconciliation is a good thing. Nobody wants to see Rivers State burn in the fire of political egos. Peace is always better than chaos. But the real issue is how we, the people, constantly allow ourselves to be used as pawns in a game where the players already know the outcome.

It is disheartening to realize that for many people in Rivers State, and Nigeria at large, the political tension between Fubara and Wike came at a personal cost. Communities were divided. Youths engaged in violent protests. Social media became a war zone. And all this while, the two men at the center of the storm were meeting “behind closed doors” with President Tinubu facilitating their reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the Simplified Movement (Fubara’s loyalists) and the various factions of Wike’s camp are now left to realign, re-strategize, and swallow their pride. After all, their principals have embraced peace. So why are the foot soldiers still barking?

The political class in Nigeria understands one thing very well: self-preservation. They know how to secure their interests, cut deals, and settle disputes. Unfortunately, many of their followers do not understand this. They think it is a war to the death. They fight on behalf of men who would never lift a finger if their own lives were on the line.

Let this serve as a wake-up call to Nigerians: stop fighting politicians’ battles. They do not hate each other the way you think they do. They are not enemies. They are competitors, rivals at worst, but not enemies. They attend the same events, share jokes at exclusive dinners, and when the need arises, they reconcile faster than you can say “loyalist.”

So next time you are tempted to curse someone on social media because of a politician, or you are planning to slap your neighbor because he supports a different candidate, remember this moment. Fubara and Wike have moved on. They have sat together and begun the “peace process.” What are you still fighting for?

We must grow politically. Our loyalty should be to “values”, not individuals. Our energy should be spent on demanding accountability, not defending political godfathers. We must refuse to be used as fuel in the fire of political conflicts that are ultimately temporary.

Governor Fubara thanked President Tinubu for his “timely intervention,” and rightly so. If his involvement truly prevented a political disaster in Rivers State, then he deserves credit. But the truth remains: the President should not always have to intervene in every political spat. Leaders should learn how to resolve their issues maturely without dragging their entire states, and their people, into the mud.

It is time to start asking deeper questions: Will this reconciliation lead to better governance in Rivers State? Will the people who suffered during the political crisis be compensated in any way? Will the governor now be free to lead without political strings from Abuja? Will Wike still pull strings behind the scenes? Only time will tell.

But in the meantime, let us reflect on the comedy that is Nigerian politics. And the next time we see two politicians at war, let us not be too quick to join the fray. Because as history has shown us repeatedly, the war is never what it seems. And the so-called enemies? They are just one “peace meeting” away from smiling again. Chai, Dis politicians self! The joke, sadly, is on us.