In a dramatic turn of events, a statue of Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, was demolished by angry youths in Obi Akpor Local Government Area. This act comes amidst escalating tensions over the tenure of local government chairmen in the state.
The conflict traces its roots to a fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, occurring barely three months after Fubara assumed office. Despite a brief lull in hostilities, the issue of local government chairmen’s tenure has reignited the dispute.
Governor Fubara recently mandated that all 23 local government area (LGA) chairmen, many of whom are loyal to Wike, vacate their positions due to the expiration of their tenures. However, the chairmen refused to comply, citing an extension allegedly granted by the pro-Wike faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, due to the Fubara administration’s failure to conduct local government elections.
In a statewide broadcast on Tuesday, Governor Fubara reiterated his directive, instructing the LGA chairmen to hand over to the Heads of Administration in their respective councils. This announcement prompted large numbers of youths to mobilize across the state, targeting LGA secretariats.
In Obi Akpor, where Wike had previously served two terms as chairman, some youths took their protest a step further by demolishing a statue erected in his honor. Amidst chants of “No more Wike,” the protesters dismantled the statue, with one youth notably removing the hat from the statue and slamming it on the ground.
The incident highlights the deepening political rift in Rivers State as factions loyal to Wike and Fubara clash over control and governance issues. The state’s political landscape remains tense as both camps navigate the unfolding crisis.
