President Bola Tinubu has been urged by Rivers Elders Council member Anabs Sara-Igbe to suspend Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for his involvement in the political unrest in the state.
Speaking on Friday’s episode of Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sara-Igbe voiced her severe displeasure of President Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
Sara-Igbe contested President Tinubu’s actions, arguing that the president lacked the constitutional power to dismiss a governor who was lawfully elected.
Sara-Igbe remarked, “He has no constitutional power to suspend the governor,” raising doubts about the rationale behind the action.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the President handled the matter, citing the inaction against Wike, whom he says is the main cause of the ongoing issues in Rivers State.
However, a minister who is inciting the entire issue he appointed has never been questioned or given approval. “Why doesn’t he sanction the minister who is the root of the issue?” he asked.
Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have a sour feud that has made the political turmoil in Rivers State worse.
This struggle has resulted in rising violence, including explosions and the destruction of oil pipelines, as well as violent riots and parliamentary deadlock.
Declaring a state of emergency in Rivers on Tuesday, President Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for a six-month initial period.
The President attributed this dramatic step mostly to the “disturbing violence” occurring in the state.
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But Sara-Igbe charged that Wike was the main cause of the problem. According to him, Wike, who he considers to be the major agitator, has been left unpunished while the president suspended other elected officials.
He declared, “You have suspended an elected governor, but you cannot suspend a minister who is the main source of all the issues.”
President Tinubu also came under fire from Sara-Igbe for what he saw as an unjust strategy for settling the dispute. He used an analogy when he remarked, “If you beat two kids who are fighting, heaven will say you are fair.” A child who isn’t the troublemaker to disrespect everyone can’t be mistreated and flogged all the time.
Furthermore, he charged that Wike was causing splits throughout the nation by making disparaging remarks about different ethnic groups, which he said contributed to the nation’s escalating tensions.
“He has disparaged the entire nation. He has called ethnic groups out to sow trouble and disrespected his grandfathers. Sara-Igbe came to the conclusion that the man who is quiet and obedient to you is the one you approved of.
