Amaechi Comments on the Political Crisis in Rivers State Between Wike and Fubara
The political landscape of Rivers State has been fraught with turmoil, drawing national attention to the power struggles and alleged corruption at its core. Former Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has emerged as a vocal critic, alleging that the ongoing crisis stems from a dispute over the sharing of state funds between the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a recent interview, Amaechi didn't mince words, directly accusing Wike and Fubara of engaging in a battle over resources. He challenged both leaders to publicly disclose the true reasons behind their conflict, implying that the root cause transcends mere policy differences and is deeply entrenched in financial interests. Amaechi lamented what he perceives as a decline in public aversion to corruption, stating that he has not witnessed widespread public outrage regarding the alleged financial improprieties.
Amaechi didn't stop there; he also castigated President Bola Tinubu's involvement in the Rivers State saga. According to Amaechi, Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the subsequent suspension of Governor Fubara were unconstitutional and politically motivated. Amaechi posited that these actions were part of a broader strategy to remove governors perceived as potential obstacles to Tinubu's ambitions in the 2027 general election, further destabilizing the democratic process.
Amaechi argued that President Tinubu's actions are a direct overreach of power, violating Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines the specific conditions under which a governor can be removed from office, namely death, resignation, or impeachment. He questioned why Rivers State was singled out for a state of emergency due to pipeline bombings when other regions of Nigeria are grappling with equally severe security challenges.
The former governor emphasized that securing pipelines falls under the purview of the President, not the state governor, and thus, Fubara should not be penalized for security lapses at the federal level. Amaechi's criticism extended to the National Assembly's approval of the state of emergency, which he deemed unconstitutional due to the controversial voice vote used to secure its passage.
Amaechi's sentiments echo concerns raised by other prominent figures, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. Jonathan condemned the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State as a blight on Nigeria's reputation, while Soyinka labeled President Tinubu's intervention as
