Victor Ezeja
Newly elected chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has called on President Bola Tinubu to sack FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, claiming that he is threatening democracy in the country.
Ihunwo, who spoke in an interview with Arise News Morning Show on Tuesday, accused Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, of causing the crisis that erupted in the state after the local government election held on Saturday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe alleged that Wike, who is currently at logger head with the incumbent Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is causing chaos in the state, and appealed to President Tinubu to call him to order.
Violence had erupted in the state on Monday as people allegedly loyal to Wike, attempted to block the newly elected chairmen and councillors in the 23 local government areas across the state from gaining access to council headquarters and assuming office.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Condemns Violence In Rivers, Orders Police To Secure LG Council Secretariats
The incident resulted in three local government areas being set ablaze and one person dead.
Speaking on what happened on Monday in his LGA, Ihunwo said he had finished swearing in the vice chairman and 17 ward councilors and went to inspect some offices that were damaged earlier, when they started hearing gunshots. He said the hoodlums attempted to invade the council secretariat and burn it, but were repelled by security men attached to the council.
Reacting to calls for declaration of state of emergency in the state over the crisis, Ihunwo said there is no need for that.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Hoodlums Raze Ikwerre, Eleme, Emohua LG Council Secretariats
“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,” Ihunwo stated.
“Our President should call him to order. He disrupted our state. Go to other states, everywhere is very peaceful. Why is Rivers State different? 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.
He said nobody no matter how powerful can destroy the local government, adding that it has been there before Wike came into power and will continue to be. “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.”
Ihunwo urged the people to remain calm and peaceful, despite the chaotic situation, adding that the governor of our state is “a man that has conscience” and knows the right thing to do.
He advised the young people being used to cause violence to have a rethink and see the need to toe the path of peace.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
