New information suggests that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, may have suspended the impeachment plot against the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, to avoid potential exposure of alleged financial misconduct to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Before the elections, the EFCC had declared Fubara wanted for the alleged misuse of N435 billion, and it is believed that Wike, as the former governor, may have been aware of or involved in the financial activities.
Fubara, who served as the Director of Finance and Accounts and later as the Accountant General of Rivers State before his election as governor, was strategically chosen by Wike to benefit from immunity as governor, shielding him from arrest. The decision to halt the impeachment plot is seen as a move to prevent Fubara from revealing potentially damaging financial transactions of the state government, particularly related to Wike’s alleged presidential ambitions.
Additionally, the impeachment plan may have been temporarily halted due to ethnic considerations, as the governor is of Ijaw descent, and tensions arose over potential negative effects on the economy, especially in the oil-rich riverine areas. President Bola Tinubu and other governors were reported to have intervened. The ethnic dimension also led to criticism from Ijaw groups, such as the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), who stood by Fubara, citing his positive contributions to the state.
The INC emphasized that the political structure of Rivers State should not be considered Wike’s personal property and urged him to pass it on to his successor. They defended Fubara, describing him as a technocrat with a strong sense of public service and receiving accolades from various tribes and sections of Rivers State. The Ijaw groups expressed their political consciousness and support for Fubara, highlighting the lack of identified wrongdoing or crimes committed by the governor.
