Tension Escalates As Wike Warns Rivers Authorities: “Next Time, We’ll Force Our Way In

Political tensions in Rivers State intensified on Friday as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accused the state government of obstructing the activities of the Renewed Hope Family by denying them access to a key public facility.

Wike made the claim while inaugurating senatorial and local government coordinators of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors.

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Speaking to supporters, Wike said his request to use the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium for the inauguration was turned down by the Rivers State Government.

“We applied to the state government for the General Gowon Yakubu Stadium, and they refused us,” he stated.

He went further to issue a strong warning, insisting that future denials would not be tolerated.

“But let me say, next time we want to do this, if you don’t approve it, we will break it by force,” he declared.

Wike argued that all Rivers people should have equal access to state-owned facilities regardless of political differences.

“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,” he said.

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“If you don’t agree to give us, we will do the needful and take it by force. Heaven will never fall, and even if heaven falls, everywhere will be at peace,” he added.

Following the stadium refusal, the inauguration was eventually held at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, another facility owned by the Rivers State Government.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his supporters were notably absent from the event, despite repeated public declarations of loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and support for his re-election bid.

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Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has revived impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

Lawmakers said the process is based on allegations of financial mismanagement, further escalating the political crisis in the state.

Despite the growing tension, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says efforts are ongoing to resolve the dispute.

Speaking on TVC, the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said Wike remains an important figure in stabilising Rivers politics, even though he is not a member of the APC.

“Wike is part of the effort to settle the crisis, even though he is not an APC member,” Basiru said.

“His support for President Tinubu and his influence in Rivers State make his involvement necessary.”