Protesting Youths Pull Down Wike’s Statue In Rivers

A statue of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in the Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers State, was on Tuesday, pulled down by protesting youths in the state.

Wike, a former two-term governor of Rivers, was also the Chairman of the local government from 1999 to 2007.

Youths numbering above 10 in a viral video were seen gathering around and castigating the minister.

Several of the youths were seen laying their hands on the statue, shaking it vigorously, and pulling it from its base.

READ: Rivers: No Tenure Extension For Chairmen, Fubara Declares

This is coming after another round of the ongoing crisis in Rivers over the tenure of the outgoing local government chairmen in Rivers State.

The outgoing chairmen had vowed to remain in office, banking on a law made by the pro-Wike lawmakers.

But in a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday morning, Governor Siminalayi Fubara said the tenure of the elected Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and Councillors who were elected and sworn in three years ago expired on Monday, June 17.

“As we move forward in making sure that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is upheld, and that law and order is maintained as we continue to strive to provide leadership and direction for our people, I hereby direct Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAS) to continue to provide leadership in their respective Local Government Areas.

“Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAS) are hereby directed to immediately take charge of the Councils with renewed vigour and readiness to serve and await further directives as we navigate towards even greater accomplishments together,” Fubara said.

The situation had degenerated into chaos with youths who are mostly supporters of the governor occupying some secretariat and preventing the chairmen from accessing the building.