Tinubu told to immediately sack powerful minister Wike amid Rivers crisis, see details

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering politics and governance in Nigeria.

Port Harcourt, Rivers state - Chijioke Ihunwo, the newly-sworn-in chairman of Obio-Akpor local government area (LGA) of Rivers state, has asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Legit.ng reports that speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, October 9, Ihunwo accused Wike of “threatening democracy in Nigeria".

Some political analysts had lamented that the Rivers political crisis was getting out of control. Phot credit: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike
Source: Facebook

He said:

"What we want to do is to call on Mr President to call Nyesom Wike to order. Nyesom Wike is threatening democracy under the administration of Mr President. Wike is not God."

Ihunwo added:

“We also appeal to Mr President to address Nyesom Wike or immediately sack him, because he doesn’t even deserve to be in the cabinet of Mr President. Look at Nigerians, we have ministers that are in the cabinet, how many of them are causing problems in their state?"

Meanwhile, despite the monthslong political crisis in Rivers state, Ihunwo reassured the public of his commitment to peace.

Lingering crisis in Rivers amid Wike-Fubara feud

Legit.ng reports that the build-up to the 2024 Rivers LGA elections was trailed by controversy which was worsened by conflicting court orders and pushback from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On September 4, a high court in Rivers state held that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) could conduct the LGA elections using the 2023 voter register. However, on September 30, a federal high court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to RSIEC.

The court also barred the inspector-general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the polls.

Despite the federal high court ruling and the withdrawal of security personnel, Governor Siminalayi Fubara said the election would proceed as planned.

Following the election, pro-Wike and Governor Fubara loyalists clashed at various LGAs on Monday, October 7, with destruction and at least one death recorded.

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Source: Legit.ng