Anabs Sara-Igbe, a member of the Rivers Elders Council, has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for his involvement in the political unrest in the state.
Sara-Igbe voiced her severe disagreement of President Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.
Sara-Igbe argued that President Tinubu lacked the constitutional power to suspend a democratically elected governor, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his actions.
Sara-Igbe questioned the rationale for the move, stating, “He has no constitutional power to suspend the governor.”
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the President’s handling of the matter, citing his failure to take action against Wike, whom he says is the main cause of Rivers State’s ongoing issues.
However, he has never questioned or sanctioned a minister who is causing the entire issue that he appointed. He asked, “What prevents him from punishing the minister who is the root of the issue?
A sour rivalry between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, has made the political turmoil in Rivers State worse.
Legislative deadlock, violent altercations, and increasing violence—such as explosions and the destruction of oil pipelines—have all resulted from this struggle.
Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly were suspended for a first six months after President Tinubu proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers on Tuesday.
The President stated that the main cause of this extreme measure was the “disturbing violence” in the state.
Sara-Igbe, however, charged Wike with being the main cause of the situation. He maintained that Wike, who he considers to be the principal culprit, had been unaffected by the President’s suspension of elected authorities.
“An elected governor has been suspended, but you cannot suspend a minister who is the main source of all the issues,” he said.
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Additionally, Sara-Igbe chastised President Tinubu for what he saw as an unjust strategy for settling the dispute. Using an analogy, he stated, “Heaven will declare you fair if you beat two children who are fighting.” When a child is not the one causing trouble and insulting everyone, you cannot abuse him and flog him through it all.
He went on to charge Wike of causing splits throughout the nation, pointing out that the FCT Minister had made disparaging comments about a number of ethnic groups, which exacerbated already high tensions in the nation.
“He has disparaged every region of the nation. By urging ethnic groups to come out and incite trouble, he has disrespected his grandfathers. However, you approved of the man who is quiet and obedient to you, Sara-Igbe concluded.
