Rivers Crisis: ‘Anointing Fubara as governor was a mistake’ – Wike speaks out over removal of lawmakers
Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says no one has the power to sack elected members of the Rivers House of Assembly.
Wike and Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, have been locked in a battle for the political structure of Rivers since 2023.
The rift between both men has led to a polarisation of the Rivers House of Assembly — with each camp electing a speaker loyal to either man.
In December, 25 Rivers lawmakers loyal to Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Their seats were subsequently declared vacant by Edison Ehie, who was then speaker of the camp loyal to Wike.
On May 6, Fubara told state legislators loyal to Wike that they owe their existence to him. On May 10, a Rivers high court granted an interim injunction restraining Martin Amaewhule, a lawmaker loyal to Wike, from parading himself as speaker of the state assembly.
Charles Wali, the presiding judge, also restrained 25 other assembly members from parading themselves as legislators.
The motion ex parte was filed by Victor Jumbo, the factional speaker and two assembly members — Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy. All three legislators are loyal to Fubara.
Speaking on Saturday in Ogu-Bolo LGA of Rivers at an event to honour George Sekibo, a former senator who has spent 36 years in public service, Wike aimed more thinly veiled barbs Fubara’s way.
The former governor’s comments also came after Fubara gazetted an executive order moving the sitting of the State House of Assembly to the government house.
Addressing Anorld Davids, lawmaker representing Ogu-Bolo constituency in the assembly, Wike said: “Let me say this clearly, Arnold, don’t be frightened that anybody would remove you as an assembly member.”
“Nobody will remove you as an assembly member.
“Most of you don’t understand. This is our work. What l am doing is to make them fear, to make them angry.
“I have no other job than to make them angry every day, to make them make mistakes every day. And they will be in trouble every day. So, don’t worry about yourselves.
“If they like, they can go to anybody by 2 am, 4 am to get an injunction. The law will take its course. We are not afraid. We followed due process. We must follow due process.
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“We are not going to harm anybody. We are not going to give money to anybody to buy arms and kill anybody. We won’t do that.”
Again, Wike apologised for backing Fubara to succeed him as governor.
“I have made a mistake. I own up. And I ask God to forgive me. I have said all of you forgive me. But, we will correct it at the appropriate time,” he said.
“I am a human being. I am bound to make a mistake. My judgment can be wrong. So, forgive me for making a wrong judgment. That is life.”
TheCable
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