Rivers Crisis: Wike Backs Assembly, Says He Won’t Stop Lawmakers from Performing Duties

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria  

Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will not interfere with the Rivers State House of Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities.

Speaking at a Thanksgiving/Civic Reception organized by the New Associates Kalabari in Asari-Toru Local Government Area on Saturday, Wike said he had foreseen the crisis and advised Governor Siminalayi Fubara to avoid it, but the governor ignored his counsel and surrounded himself with “ingrates.”

The former governor criticized Fubara for withholding the salaries and allowances of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Speaker Martin Amaewhule, stating that the governor was misled into believing that his actions would have no consequences.

“My only offence was advising the governor to take care of those who supported him, the people who worked hard for his emergence. Instead, he abandoned them,” Wike said.

He further claimed that many of the major projects in the state, including the Ring Road, were initiated by his administration and handed over to Fubara, challenging the governor to name any new project he had started.

Wike dismissed criticisms against him, asserting that he remains unbothered by insults.

He maintained that the current political crisis could have been avoided had the governor listened to his advice.

In a clear stance on the legislative crisis, Wike insisted that the Rivers Assembly must be allowed to carry out its constitutional duties. “People who love peace don’t issue threats. The Assembly should do its work. Whatever is necessary and constitutional, they should do. I will not stop them,” he declared.

His statement comes just days after the Assembly adjourned its sittings indefinitely, moments after Governor Fubara wrote to the Speaker about his plans to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill on March 19.