Politics

Wike Plans To Install Rivers Speaker As Gov After Removing Fubara – Edwin Clark

ByKazeem Badmus

PublishedOctober 30, 2023

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has been accused by an elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, of being behind the plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara.

Clark who asked President Bola Tinubu to caution Wike and security agencies in Rivers State said the intention of the immediate past governor of the state is to force Fubara’s deputy to resign after a successful impeachment and install the Speaker of the state House of Assembly as governor.

Osun Defender had reported that some Lawmakers in the state on Monday morning initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor.

The governor was also teargas and shot at on his way to the Assembly complex on Monday morning to check the level of destruction on the Assembly complex that exploded on Sunday night.

Clark in a statement on Monday said Tinubu must act fast and avert the unfolding crisis in Rivers State in the interest of his administration, the nation’s democracy, and the country at large.

Clark said Rivers people have suffered enough political crises, adding that Nigeria is a democracy and the tenets of constitutional democracy must be upheld by all.

The statement reads in part, “I have been greatly disturbed by the reported developments in Rivers State in the last 24 hours. I have been reliably informed that there is a plot to unlawfully remove the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Siminalaye Fubara, who has spent only about 5 months in office.

“I understand the sad episode is being orchestrated by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike. And that the intention is to remove the Governor, force his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu to resign, and install the Speaker of the House of Assembly, another Ikwerre person as the governor of the state.

“Let me warn strongly, we won’t allow that to happen. President Bola Tinubu must call Nyesom Wike and the security agencies in Rivers State to order, to avert any untold crisis in Rivers State.

“The consequences would be dire for the stability of the region and the national economy. What has Governor Fubara done wrong? Refusing to be further ‘remote controlled?’ Mr. Nyesom Wike was governor for 8 years, nobody hassled him. He governed Rivers State like an emperor, he did not show any iota of respect and regard to anyone, not even those who imposed him on Rivers people in 2015.”

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.