In the midst of the ongoing crisis in Rivers State and the looming threat of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s impeachment, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State, has voiced his concerns about the significance of holding onto his political base for maintaining political relevance.
Receiving a delegation of South-South leaders at his office on Tuesday, Wike emphasized the critical role his base plays in sustaining his political influence. He firmly stated that once he loses his base as a politician, he effectively loses his political relevance. Regardless of the challenges or accusations directed at him, Wike made it clear that the right course of action must be followed.
“All of us desire political relevance and wish to uphold our political structure,” the minister stated. “Our political structure is our foundation; would any of us allow it to be eroded easily? Every one of us has a base, and if you take away my base, am I not rendered politically irrelevant?”
The recent tension between Wike and Governor Fubara has escalated following the Assembly’s move to impeach the governor. Some have even accused Wike of being the mastermind behind the impeachment efforts. The Rivers State Assembly Complex added to the chaos when a section of it was engulfed in flames on Sunday night. On Monday morning, the situation took a dramatic turn as principal officers were removed from the Assembly, and gunshots filled the air.
Governor Fubara visited the Complex on Monday to assess the damage and alleged that he was shot at by the police. The police promptly announced that they were investigating these allegations.
Both Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite the internal discord, Wike highlighted that internal disputes are common in politics and are typically resolved through the party’s internal mechanisms.
“In politics, internal disagreements are a part of the game,” he explained. “But instead of immediately jumping to conclusions and saying, ‘They want to do this against me,’ it’s essential to remember that I had the power to influence where this situation was heading. When things go awry, it’s our responsibility to ask questions. It’s an internal party matter, and the party has established mechanisms for resolving such issues. It’s not about ethnicity.”
Wike concluded by expressing his confidence in the PDP’s ability to address the ongoing challenges. He also emphasized that every politician is driven by their own interests and goals within the political landscape.
The political turmoil in Rivers State remains a matter of significant concern, and the nation is watching closely as the situation unfolds.
