A statue of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has been pulled down by angry youths during a protest in Obi Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The protest was sparked by a contentious dispute over the tenure of local government chairmen.
This unrest highlights the growing tension between the supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and those of Nyesom Wike, who had succeeded Fubara as the governor of Rivers State just three months ago.
The relationship between the two has been strained, marked by several heated exchanges, but had appeared to stabilize until recently.
The latest conflict was triggered by the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen. Governor Fubara directed these chairmen, many of whom are allied with Wike, to step down following the end of their terms.
However, these chairmen refused, arguing that their tenure had been extended by six months.
This extension was allegedly authorized by the pro-Wike faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly due to the Fubara administration’s failure to conduct timely local government elections.
In response to the escalating crisis, Governor Fubara issued a statewide broadcast on Tuesday, ordering all 23 local government chairmen to hand over their duties to the Heads of Administration in their respective councils.
After the directive, youths in large numbers trooped to LGA secretariats across the state.
In Obi Akpor where Wike served as Chairman for two terms, some youths destroyed a statue that was erected in his honour.
One of them was heard shouting, “No more Wike”, while others joined hands to scatter the object.
One of them removed the hat fell off during the destruction and slammed it on the floor.
The incident happened just when protests are holding simultaneously across Rivers.
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