Political tensions in Rivers State heightened on Friday, as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike accused the state government of frustrating the activities of the Renewed Hope Family by denying them access to a major public facility.
Wike made the allegation on Friday during the inauguration of the senatorial and local government coordinators of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
The minister said his request to use the General Yakubu Gowon stadium for the Friday inauguration was declined by the Rivers State Government.
But he warned that any future refusal to grant such approval would be resisted.
He said, “We applied to the state government for the General Gowon Yakubu Stadium. They refused us.
“But let me say, next time we will do this, if you don’t approve it, we will break it by force.”
Wike added, “I want to say it to everybody, enough is enough, we are all from Rivers State. Nobody can deny us the facilities of the state.
“If you don’t agree to give us, we will do the needful and we will take it by force. Heaven will never fall. And even when heaven falls, everywhere will be at peace.”
The programme was eventually held at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, another facility owned by the Rivers State Government.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his supporters, who have also pledged allegiance to President Bola Tinubu and his re-election bid, were absent from the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in the state.
Despite both the FCT minister and the governor now aligning with the president and supporting his re-election, cracks remain in their relationship.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has resumed fresh impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
According to the lawmakers, the impeachment move is based on allegations of financial misappropriation.
The national leadership of the APC has, however, assured that it is resolving the political crisis in the state.
The National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru, Speaking on TVC, said Wike, is part of the effort to settle the crisis, even though he is not an APC member.
He explained that Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu and his influence in Rivers State make his involvement necessary.
