In spite of President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the ongoing face-off between Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, strong indications suggest that the plan to impeach Governor Fubara remains unabated.
Forces loyal to Wike are reportedly unrelenting in their efforts to remove the governor, who was once a close ally of his predecessor, now serving as the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The minister’s camp is said to be mobilizing and strategizing to carry out the impeachment despite President Tinubu’s intervention.
The minister’s camp has allegedly lobbied a major pro-Niger Delta group to denounce its opposition to the planned impeachment, signaling a determination to proceed with the plot. The strained relationship between Wike and Fubara escalated when members of the state House of Assembly, loyal to Wike, attempted to initiate the impeachment process, resulting in the burning of a section of the assembly.
Governor Fubara claimed that gunmen attacked him during a visit to the scene of the arson, further fueling the tensions. The dramatic twists in the crisis have triggered public outrage, drawing condemnation from prominent figures, including Chief Edwin Clark and Niger Delta groups like the Ijaw National Congress (INC).
Despite President Tinubu’s call for ceasefire, the minister’s camp reportedly insists on pursuing the impeachment, deploying means to garner support from state agencies with coercive power. Some members of the state House of Assembly opposed to the impeachment have allegedly been stripped of their security, while those sympathetic to the plot reportedly enjoy cover from law enforcement.
Stakeholders in the Niger Delta, including INC, IYC, and PANDEF, have voiced concerns about the potential impact on regional stability. They emphasize the need for peace to prevent unrest in the entire Niger Delta region, highlighting the economic significance of the area as a major source of crude oil.
In his budget presentation, President Tinubu outlined the expectation of the oil sector contributing N7.69 trillion to the proposed 2024 appropriation. However, the region continues to grapple with crude oil theft, amounting to more than N16.25 trillion in the past 11 years.
The INC, through a statement, warned against allowing the current peace in the region to deteriorate due to the plot to remove the governor. Meanwhile, those behind the plot reportedly seek to induce the leadership of militant groups for compromise.
Governor Fubara, in response to the crisis, emphasized the need for resolution, stating, “There is nothing wrong if a father and a son have a problem.” A coalition of groups in the Niger Delta, the Ijaw Renaissance Force, also issued a warning against actions jeopardizing peace and stability in the region, urging stakeholders to resolve the face-off amicably in the interest of the people.
