Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed concerns that Rivers State would descend into chaos if the State House of Assembly decides to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid the ongoing political crisis.
Speaking during a media interaction in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike argued that there was nothing wrong with the lawmakers removing the governor if he had committed impeachable offences, including the alleged withholding of their salaries for months.
“If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a criminal offence? It’s provided in the constitution. Am I a member of the Assembly?
“If you have committed an infraction of the constitution and the Assembly deems it fit to say, you should be impeached.
“I have heard people say: ‘Oh, if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order’. Rubbish. Nothing will happen,” Wike stated.
The former Rivers State governor, who has been locked in a political battle with Fubara, accused some judges of misleading politicians into believing they had strong legal cases, only for them to lose in court.
“If you win, they say the judges collected money. Meanwhile, no compensation was given. I know what I know. Now, if they don’t win, they go by the same way, it will be difficult for us to go and collect the money back. Because let people not know that we paid the bribe. So, whichever way,” Wike said in an interview with TVC.
He further suggested that Fubara had been given false hope ahead of a Supreme Court ruling, implying that the governor had been misled into believing he was guaranteed victory.
“Simply because judicial merchants have told you, you will win. And that’s why I pity judges and justices,” Wike added.
Criticising Fubara’s leadership style, Wike accused him of arrogance due to his control over state resources.
“Fubara has the temerity, the audacity, because he has money from the FAAC, because he has money from the IGR, to enter my family to remove a chief and make another person chief,” he said.
Wike also downplayed efforts to resolve the crisis, stating that peace cannot be forced and accusing Fubara’s camp of attempting to use intimidation.
“If the assembly thinks that he (Fubara) committed infraction and he knows he committed you find peace it’s not by gra-gra it’s not by threatening glory,” he stated.
Despite the political turmoil, Wike reaffirmed his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and his continued support for the administration.
“Even if you tell me I have to support who is the one who is in the battle of who, I am the one that will champion Mr. President. I’m also doing it. You don’t preach that one to me,” he declared.
The rift between Wike and Fubara, which began shortly after the latter assumed office, has created deep divisions in Rivers State’s political landscape. With accusations of judicial manipulation, governance interference, and personal conflicts, the crisis remains unresolved.