Rivers Crisis: Wike, Fubara Fight Is About Money Sharing – Amaechi

Rotimi Amaechi, the ex-Governor of Rivers State, has asserted that the conflict between the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, revolves around the distribution of funds.

Amaechi, who held the position of Minister of Transport during the Buhari administration, made these remarks during a discussion with DW Africa on Saturday, March 29. He argued that the emergency rule enforced on the state by President Bola Tinubu lacked constitutional backing.

In his words, “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.”

Amaechi suggested that the President played a role in the Rivers State situation, driven by a desire to maintain influence by removing governors who might not back him in the 2027 general election.

“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 stated.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli