Wike And Fubara’s Despute Is About Money Sharing, Not Governance – Amaechi

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that the conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike is primarily about money distribution.

In an interview with DW Africa on Saturday, March 29, Rotimi Amaechi criticized the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, calling it unconstitutional.

The former Minister of Transportation argued that Rivers State is being denied democracy, stating that the imposition of emergency rule is equivalent to military control.

He said, ’The fight between the current governor of Rivers State and the FCT minister is about sharing money. If not, what is the quarrel? Nigerians don’t dislike corruption anymore. I’ve not seen anybody on the street querying what the problem is. Can both of them speak to the public and tell us what the problem is?

“We are now denied democracy. Rivers State is the only state in the country currently not enjoying democracy. They have imposed military rule on us.

“Secondly, the president acted outside the Constitution. Section 188 states how a governor can leave office, either by death, resignation, or impeachment. It didn’t say that one day you wake up and a man called the president of Nigeria will throw you out of office, which makes democracy unstable.”

Amechi further suggested that President Tinubu’s involvement in the Rivers crisis is politically motivated, aimed at consolidating power ahead of the 2027 elections.

He questioned why similar emergency measures had not been imposed in other regions experiencing insecurity, such as the North East, North West, South East, and South South.

“Rumours are everywhere that if any governor is not careful, the president will remove you. So the Rivers issue is about sharing money and 2027 politics.

“If the President said that the pipe that exploded was the reason why he tagged Rivers unstable and insecure by declaring a state of emergency, what about the other parts of the country where there is insecurity?”

“Is the President saying that they should impose an emergency rule on him? They can’t because he is a democratically elected President. There are insecurity issues in the North East and North West, even in the South East and South South.

“The governor has no responsibility for the blown pipes in Rivers. Security responsibility rests solely on the President. Why punish a man who did not commit any offence?” he said.

Meanwhile, Nyesom Wike has criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for opposing President Bola Tinubu’s proposed state of emergency in Rivers State.