By Jane Okafor, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that his business is not to make the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, comfortable.
Wike who revealed his dissatisfaction with the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in the State, said he wanted Fubara impeached.
The Minister made this known on Friday during a media chat in Abuja, noting that the emergency rule was not part of his desired outcome in the Rivers protracted political crisis.
“I am not happy with the state of emergency,” the former Rivers governor said.
The Daily Crucible reports that President Bola Tinubu had in March proclaimed a state of emergency in the state, citing persistent political instability and worsening security concerns, including pipeline explosions at the time.
The president stepped up the measure by suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for six months, describing the move as “inevitably compelling” based on security reports.
Tinubu also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas as sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs pending resolution of the crisis, a decision that has continued to elicit mixed reactions, including pro and anti – protests in the state.
However, speaking during the media parley, Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers, said he wanted the outright removal of Fubara.
“As a politician, I’m not happy because I wanted the outright removal of the governor, but for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.
“People must say the truth, the governor was gone, people should be worshipping Mr. President every morning for saving them.”
“Mind you, the Supreme Court has said that money should not go to the local government when it’s not democratically elected. Also, the Supreme Court said nobody will go to the state without appropriation.
“All institutions will be shut down; it’s not in my place to make it good for the governor as a politician. It’s not in my place to make the governor happy or comfortable, and that’s why there is power play.
“The point I’m trying to make is that Mr. President came in and saved the people of Rivers from that calamity or anarchy.
“People should thank Mr. President because, as a politician, I’m not happy — the Assembly members were not happy, and that’s why I had to go to London to speak to them.”
