Protesters Demolish Wike’s Statue, Saying No more Wike, we are done with him
By Century
According to Punch, protesters in Rivers State’s Obi Akpor Local Government Area tore down a statue of Nyesom Wike during protests against the tenure of local government chairmen.
This reignited tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike over the chairmen’s term extensions. Despite a legislative extension, Fubara ordered the chairmen, who had Wike’s support, to vacate their positions.
“Fubara’s decision was unjust,” said one protester. “We’re tired of Wike’s influence,” another shouted during the protests. Demonstrators expressed their frustration with chants of “No more Wike” as they toppled his statue. A video capturing the incident showed a protester throwing the fallen statue’s hat to the ground, symbolizing their rejection of Wike’s political influence.
The incident underscores a deep-seated power struggle between factions aligned with Fubara and Wike in Rivers State. It reflects broader public dissatisfaction with political maneuvering around local governance and ongoing tensions between current leadership and former political figures like Wike.
In essence, the removal of Wike’s statue serves as a potent symbol of protest against perceived political favoritism and the ongoing battle for control over local governance in Rivers State.
