The newly elected Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss Nyesom Wike from his position as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Ihunwo alleged that Wike’s actions disrupted the recent local government elections in Rivers State, posing a significant threat to democracy in Nigeria. He cited violent incidents that erupted after the swearing-in of newly elected officials.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Ihunwo asserted that Wike’s actions pose a significant threat to democracy in Nigeria, especially in light of the recent violent incidents following the local government elections.
The chairman described the aftermath of the elections, where hoodlums attempted to invade and burn the council. However, security personnel prevented the attack.
Ihunwo expressed confidence in the resilience of local governance, stating that it has existed before Wike’s tenure and will continue despite attempts to destabilize it.
He accused Wike of sponsoring chaos and urged the President to take action. Ihunwo reassured the public of his commitment to peace, urging calm amidst the crisis.
The Rivers State government has faced criticism over election-related violence, with concerns raised about Wike’s influence.
The development has sparked tensions in the state, with Ihunwo’s call for Wike’s removal adding to the growing pressure on President Tinubu to address the situation.
As the crisis unfolds, residents and stakeholders await the President’s response to Ihunwo’s appeal.
Ihunwo said, “There’s no need to declare state of emergency in Rivers State, Rivers State is very peaceful. What we want to do is to call on Mr President to call Nyesom Wike to order. Nyesom Wike is threatening democracy under the administration of Mr President. Wike is not God, Wike is a human being. Our President should call him to order. He disrupted our state. Go to other states, everywhere is very peaceful. Why is it that Rivers State? Wike cannot own Rivers State, Rivers State is too big for him to hold.
“We also appeal to Mr President to address Nyesom Wike or immediately sack him, because he doesn’t even deserve to be in the cabinet of Mr President. Look at Nigerians, we have ministers that are in the cabinet, how many of them are causing problems in their state? Do what they ask you to do instead of causing crisis,” he added.
Ihunwo described the aftermath of the local government elections, where violence broke out following the swearing-in of newly elected officials.
“We went out to inspect the offices, we saw the level of damage that was done there before now when we came in. And so we started hearing shooting across the road, hoodlums who want to invade the council, attempt to burn the council, but because of the security men attached to the council, they didn’t get access, so they were shooting across the road,” he said.
He then expressed confidence in the resilience of local governance, stating, “Let me tell Nigerians that nobody can destroy our local government. The local government has been there before the minister of FCT came in. So, sponsoring people to start shooting here and there across the local governments is just laughable. And Wike is threatening democracy in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but we are fine.”
“What goes around comes around. Wike did it to Rotimi Amaechi, and today, Rivers people are also doing it to him because he has refused to leave Rivers State alone. He has turned River State to be his private industry, and we have said no,” he said.
Despite the turbulence, Ihunwo reassured the public of his commitment to peace, saying, “We’re not scared, I am not talking as a youth leader, I’m now a Chairman of Council, we are preaching peace and telling our people to remain calm about the crisis in our state, because the governor of our state is a man that has conscience. He’s a man that knows what is the right thing to do. But for those young people who they are using to cause crisis in our state, I will advice them to fall back.”
