,The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said that nothing significant will happen if the Rivers State House of Assembly moves ahead with the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Wike made the declaration during a media interaction in Abuja on Wednesday, brushing aside concerns that such a political move would lead to chaos in the state.
Wike, who has been a prominent figure in the ongoing political developments in Rivers State, said that the impeachment process is constitutional and that there is no reason for alarm. He was quick to question the fears being raised about possible unrest if the governor is removed from office.
“If you have committed an offense that warrants impeachment, what’s wrong with that?” Wike asked. “Is it a criminal offense? It’s provided in the constitution. Am I a member of the Assembly?”
The former governor, who served two terms in office in Rivers, went on to challenge the claims that removing the governor would spark violence or lawlessness. He dismissed these concerns as “rubbish” and stated firmly that nothing significant would occur in the state if the impeachment process was followed through.
Rivers State has been embroiled in a deepening political crisis in recent months, with growing tensions between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to Wike. These tensions have centered around the governor’s handling of the state’s governance and the control of the legislative arm of government.
Governor Fubara, who succeeded Wike as the governor of Rivers State, has found himself at odds with members of the state House of Assembly, many of whom were once staunch supporters of Wike. This conflict has played out in several public disagreements, particularly over legislative control and the distribution of power between the governor and the state assembly.
One of the main issues that has fueled the current crisis is Fubara’s management of the state’s finances, particularly in relation to the payment of salaries for lawmakers. Wike, during his media parley, accused Fubara of withholding the salaries of lawmakers for months, suggesting that such actions could be grounds for impeachment.
“It’s not just about removing someone from office. If the governor has withheld lawmakers’ salaries, that is an issue that could be grounds for impeachment,” Wike argued. The withholding of salaries has been a major point of contention in the state, with lawmakers alleging that the governor is using the non-payment of their salaries as a tool to manipulate the legislature.
Wike’s comments on the impeachment issue come at a time when political observers in Rivers State are closely watching developments in the state’s House of Assembly. The Martins Amaewhule-led assembly has been the focus of heated debate, with some lawmakers accusing Fubara of undermining their independence. However, Wike maintains that there is nothing extraordinary about the impeachment process itself, as it is fully supported by the Nigerian constitution.
Wike further pushed back against the idea that the impeachment of a sitting governor would lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state. “I have heard people say: ‘Oh, if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order’. Rubbish! Nothing will happen,” he stated. According to Wike, fears of violence are unfounded, and the political process must be allowed to take its course.
The former governor also addressed criticisms from some quarters about the handling of the political crisis in the state. He pointed out that if the assembly was truly interested in resolving the issues peacefully, it would not have gone on a six-month recess following the Supreme Court’s verdict on the political crisis in Rivers.
