A political strategist, Baba Yusuf, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of orchestrating a plan to remove Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from office in order to install a loyalist as his replacement.
Yusuf made the allegation on Friday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time.
According to him, Wike has remained defiant despite several interventions by President Bola Tinubu, even when such interventions were reportedly in his favour.
“Wike has taken this recalcitrant position despite several interventions by President Bola Tinubu even in his favour,” Yusuf said.
He further claimed that the crisis in Rivers State escalated to the point where President Tinubu was forced to take what he described as a “tough decision” by suspending democratic institutions in the state for six months.
“Obviously, it’s a fight to finish,” Yusuf added.
The political strategist alleged that recent actions by key players in the Rivers political crisis point to a calculated strategy aimed at impeachment.
“If you look at the entire game plan now, some days ago we saw some of them shifting ground; today, they made a U-turn,” he said.
Yusuf argued that the alleged plot is anchored on constitutional provisions that would allow the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly to assume power if both the governor and deputy governor are removed.
Citing the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Yusuf explained that Section 191 empowers the Speaker to take over as acting governor in the event of a vacancy.
“Wike wants to upend Fubara and bring his stooge into office by virtue of impeachment,” he alleged.
“If this happens, Martin Amaewhule, who is the Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly, will emerge as acting governor as provided by the constitution,” Yusuf added.
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