Rivers’ crisis: Ijaw National Congress urges Tinubu to call Wike to order
Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike over plans to remove the state Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, from office.
The INC, in a statement by its President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, wondered why Wike has been resolute in the plot to remove Fubara from office despite the interventions by the President and other stakeholders.
The INC also criticised the security agencies for their support for the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the state lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minster.
The INC stated that the plot by Wike and some Federal Government officials to impeach Fubara is inimical to national stability.
Okaba pointed out that the security agencies provided security for the anti-Fubara legislators to sit against a subsisting court order requiring all parties to maintain the status quo and to take no official actions until further notice.
“Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), we implore you once again to call Mr Wike and those Federal Government agencies and agents who are putting Rivers State at risk of anarchy, to order.
“Such elements are inimical to the stability of Nigeria sooner or later. Mr Wike has also been featured on several TV stations where he made very provocative statements and scandalous claims against Governor Fubara; accusing the governor of attempting to “take over” his “structure”
“Wike openly tauntéd Fubara as an ingrate who is lacking in integrity as well as asserting without investigation that the Governor masterminded the burning down of the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Is Mr Wike at liberty to make scandalous, libellous and inciting comments without fear of sanction from the security agencies or even Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu?
“Is Wike the C-in-C of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, such that those on national assignments in Rivers State now act according to his whims and caprices or those he supports, in the push to impeach or make Rivers State ungovernable for His Excellency Governor Siminialayi Fubara, as he publicly boasted?
“As we glean from history, can law-abiding citizens suffer such intolerable lawlessness orchestrated by one man, indefinitely?
“We, therefore, submit to Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, that Ijaw National Congress (INC), its affiliate bodies, substructures and activists are direly concerned by the impunity and indecorous conduct by a Minister of the Federal Government and the apparent connivance of those who ought to curb his excesses,” Okaba said
The INC leader commended the embattled Rivers Governor for his calm disposition in the face of the provocation saying “Such conduct is becoming of a civilized leader and statesman.”
Okaba who commended the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and other stakeholders for their patriotism called on all Rivers people and well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the impunity by Wike and his supporters.
He urged the people of Rivers to stand with Fubara “to protect democratic institutions and ensure that justice and the will of the masses prevail.”
