It’s not criminal offence to impeach Fubara – Wike

Former Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara should be impeached if found wanting, stating that impeachment is not a criminal offense.

“Politics is not play. If he has done something to be impeached, let them impeach him. It’s not a criminal offence,” Wike said during a media live chat on Wednesday, March 12.

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He criticized the current state of the Rivers Assembly, suggesting that it is improper for only three lawmakers, in a veiled reference to those loyal to Fubara, to be making legislation.

“I cannot believe that in this country, we are now at the point where Nigerians are talking about where three members of the House will sit and make a law, and they are talking about going to the Supreme Court. Do we need to go to work?” he said.

The political crisis in Rivers State escalated after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers and nullified the local government elections conducted in the state in October 2024.

Wike praised those who challenged what he described as illegality and emphasized that elected officials should not be treated as subordinates.

“Speakers and Assembly members are not our children; they were elected; they are not your boys or your girls. You sit with them and play with them. I travelled with my Speakers, and I created relationships. It’s not a master-servant thing,” he said.

Recalling an incident involving elder statesman Ferdinand Alabararba, who supported the emergence of an Ijaw governor, Wike expressed disappointment over how the elder statesman was later ‘’disrespected.”

“This elder statesman cried; he almost cried. This boy later insulted this elder statesman; now he can’t go back to him for help. Ordinarily, these are the people who will call the family people. Forget about me,” Wike added.