Following the protracted political crisis rocking Rivers State, youths from the South-South region and Rivers in particular have called on President Bola Tinubu to sack the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to restore peace in the state.
They accused the minister of being the architect of the protracted political crisis rocking the state.
The youths under the aegis of the South South Youths Initiative (SSYI), led by their National President, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, expressed frustration that Rivers is still enmeshed in deep political crisis when other states are thinking about good governance and development.
Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt, Oscar stated that while other states are focusing on industrialisation and economic growth, Rivers State remains trapped in avoidable political instability, allegedly fuelled by the FCT Minister, Wike.
The group urged President Bola Tinubu to sack Minister Wike, arguing that peace would only return to Rivers State if he is relieved of his office, warning that retaining Wike could be interpreted as a presidential endorsement of the ongoing crisis in the state.
“As youths of Rivers State and the South South region, we are not happy with what is happening in Rivers State, when every other state is thinking about industrialization, every other state is boosting their economic situation, Rivers State is faced with an unnecessary political crisis orchestrated by the FCT Minister.
“We are hereby calling on Mr. President to sack the Honorable Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike. We believe that if the minister is sacked, Rivers State will be at peace, except Mr. President want to let us understand that he is the one sponsoring Nyesom Wike to go ahead to cause chaos, political turmoil in the state,” Oscar said.
He noted further that political dissent was stifled during Wike’s tenure as governor, claiming that no senior government official openly challenged or criticised his administration at the time.
According to the group, youth empowerment under Wike’s administration was virtually non-existent, with no meaningful job creation, skills acquisition, or empowerment programmes implemented.
“When Nyesom Wike was the governor of Rivers State, nobody, not even the local government chairman, House of Assembly criticized him, they were all loyalists. Nobody truncated the process or the infrastructural development of Nyesom Wike.
“We want Nyesom Wike to understand that we are not happy with him as youths of the state and as youths of this region, ” he added.
Commenting on the ongoing impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, by 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the youths dismissed claims of financial misconduct levelled against them, describing the process as a politically motivated witch-hunt allegedly driven by Wike.
The youths accused the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, of acting as “political tools” to destabilise the state and undermine governance.
They warned the Presidency that continued backing of Wike could cost President Tinubu crucial electoral support in Rivers State in the 2027 general elections.
