Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says his principal controls the political structure in Rivers state.
Speaking on Wednesday during his appearance on the Morning Brief, a programme on Channels TV, Olayinka described Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, as a weak politician who lacks a firm grip on the state’s political structure.
He said Wike controls the LG and state assembly structures, adding that Fubara should “prostrate” before the FCT minister.
“If I am a minister and you are a governor, and I can control your house of assembly, then something is wrong with you. It means you are weak,” Olayinka said, referring to Wike and Fubara, “he said.
“If I am in Abuja controlling 27 members of your House of Assembly, while you have only three and they no longer attend sittings, it means I am controlling the entire assembly. You should admit that you are weak. You should come to me and prostrate.
“If Wike controls the political structure and you [Fubara] are the governor, then he should come and beg.
“If you are a governor and you can’t control any structure in your state, then what kind of governor are you? If another person is controlling your structure, it means that the person is stronger than you politically.”
Olayinka also dismissed claims that Wike is behind Fubara’s impeachment moves.
“Wike is not behind Fubara’s impeachment. If Fubara doesn’t want the impeachment, he knows what to do. It’s [about] political navigation. He should not whip up public sentiment. If you know I’m stronger than you, come and beg me,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Rivers state house of assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
On January 16, a high court in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers, issued an interim order restraining the chief judge of Rivers from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against Fubara and his deputy.
The Rivers state house of assembly has filed an appeal against the order at the court of appeal.
The majority of the Rivers lawmakers are loyal to Wike, who has been campaigning against Fubara’s re-election bid after accusing the governor of breaching a peace agreement they both signed before President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule in Rivers.
