John Nwaigwe
The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has alleged that the defection of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven by a strategic bid to influence governance in Rivers State.
Speaking on TVC News on Monday, February 10, Ugochinyere accused Wike of switching political allegiance in a bid to undermine Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration. “You thought in your desperation that when you join APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will give you the necessary rights to illegally remove the governor,” he claimed.
Ugochinyere argued that Wike’s transition from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to an alliance with the APC-led federal government was part of a larger scheme to destabilize the Rivers State government. He pointed to recent political developments, suggesting that Wike’s moves reflect a deliberate interference that threatens democratic principles.
The political landscape in Rivers State has been tense since Wike’s appointment as FCT Minister and his subsequent alignment with President Tinubu’s administration. Analysts note that these shifts have introduced new complexities into the state’s political structure.
Ugochinyere also warned of the constitutional consequences of using federal influence to disrupt state governance. “Any attempt to manipulate federal connections to destabilize state governance stands contrary to our federal structure and constitutional democracy,” he stated.
This revelation underscores the deepening rift between Wike and the Rivers State administration, further intensifying the political struggle within the state.
