News
Wike mocks Fubara: How far, who’s having high BP now?
A gloating Nyesom Wike, took time on Saturday to dish out a large dose of taunting to Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, over the latest outcomes in the two-year bitter conflict between them, asking the latter derisively – who is having the last laugh now?
Wike’s side, was a fortnight ago handed down what appears a straight victory in the political war which started in October 2023 with the attempt by the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach the governor.
Believed to be loyal to Wike, Fubara’s predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 27 members of the assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, had gone for the governor’s jugular leading to a multi-pronged crises that eventually ended up at the Supreme Court, where the lawmakers seemed to win on all fronts.
Not only did the apex court recognise them as the authentic assembly as opposed to the four members led by Victor Oko-Jombo, it also nullified the local government election held on October 5, 2024, stopped all federal allocations to the state and asked Fubara to re-present the 2025 appropriation to the Amaewhule group.
Beaming with enthusiasm, indicating his all-round victory and suggesting that the governor had been brought to his knees, Wike, at a reception organised for him by Fubara’s Kalabari people, an Ijaw ethnic stalk in Rivers State, took time to narrate how he warned the governor and how he eventually allowed himself to be misled.
It was also a day the former governor used to amend his statement on Thursday, suggesting that the Ijaw were powerless to take any action if their son was impeached not being the majority ethnic group in the state or even the Niger Delta.
Amid the latest outcomes in the Rivers crises, the FCT Minister had told reporters: Wike said: “Ijaw doesn’t constitute the majority of the Niger Delta. People must speak out the truth. Heaven will not fall.
What nonsense. Everyday people will just wake up and say Ijaw this and that.
“In Akwa Ibom Ijaw can’t be governor. In Delta State, Ijaw is the minority of the minorities. The only place an Ijaw man can solely be the governor is in Bayelsa State, not in Edo or Rivers states.”
But in a pushback, on Saturday, Wike who spoke against the backdrop of angry ripostes from various individuals and groups to the statement, said what he actually meant was that the Ijaw people could not singularly make anyone governor and there must be collaboration with other ethnic groups in the state.
But regarding the case of Fubara, Wike maintained that he would not even take steps to stop his impeachment by the G27, should it come to that since the governor had decided to abandon the ship that brought him to power, adding that even the office was actually forced on him, having said himself that he was not keen on running and that it should go to someone else.
Hear him: “If you watch, all those who are around the governor are natural ingrates. Nobody who is not an ingrate will be happy with what is going on. All those who believe that they cannot appreciate and thank God for any good thing are there. I told the governor God gave you this position peacefully, eat it peacefully, it is not good for you to face this crisis.
“But they told him, you’re the governor, you have money. Money is not everything. All these people, they have nothing to offer. See where we are now. See where we are! How far? How far?
Narrating how he took the governor to Germany to sign major contracts with Julius Berger on the construction of some critical roads in the state, he said: “All this one they are going about now, were all my initiatives, I thought we’re working together, that I have handed office to you, go ahead.
“Let them tell me what initiatives they’ve put on ground. Let them tell you one. It is not to abuse us. You can abuse us all you want. And let me tell you, I’ve never bothered myself. Abuse dey kill anybody? You don see who abuse don kill? What is important is the result, is it not? Who get high blood pressure now? No be dem? We, we de siddon de enjoy, dem, they get high blood pressure. That’s what I was avoiding, saying don’t go through this route.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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