Lere Olayinka, the spokesperson to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, says the problems of Rivers State is for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to address and not his principal.
Olayinka said this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying Wike is not the governor of the coastal state.
“The problem of Rivers state is for the Governor to solve. He is the one that can solve his problem,” Olayinka said.
His comment followed an impeachment move on the governor by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
According to him, Fubara should liaise with the lawmakers to resolve the political crisis.
“if I’m a governor, I will go to the house of those lawmakers, re-interact with them and talk to them as colleagues and don’t forget that some of this House of Assembly members are even his seniors politically,” he said.
“There are political seniors, so to relate with them, you have to bring yourself down. Like the former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose said, this person should bring himself down from his political horse of arrogance,” the media aide to Wike said.
However, he said “he (Wike) has to be involved. Is he not from Rivers state?”
READ ALSO: Rivers Impeachment Suit Put On Hold As Court Adjourns Indefinitely
Lingering Crisis
The political crisis in the oil-rich state has continued to linger despite the declaration of the end of the emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu in September, 2025.
A few weeks ago, the Rivers State House of Assembly began an impeachment process against Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over alleged gross misconduct.
The lawmakers had passed a resolution calling on the Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi, to constitute a panel to probe the allegations against the governor.
But Amadi declined, citing court orders.
Justice Amadi’s position was conveyed in a formal letter addressed to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, acknowledging receipt of two separate requests from the legislature dated January 16, 2026.
The requests were made pursuant to Sections 188(4) and 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), following resolutions of the House to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy.
But said, “By the doctrine of ‘lis pendens’, parties and the court have to await the outcome of the appeal,” the letter read in part.
“In view of the foregoing, my hand is fettered, as there are subsisting interim orders of injunction and appeal against the said orders. I am therefore legally disabled at this point from exercising my duties under Section 188(5) of the Constitution in the instant.”
An Oyigbo High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt has adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, challenging the impeachment process initiated against them by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Florence Fiberesima of the Oyigbo High Court took the decision after being informed that two separate appeals had been entered in respect of the matter.
The adjournment, the court held, would allow the Court of Appeal to first determine the issues before it.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, and 27 lawmakers, S.I. Amen, (SAN), notified the court of the pending appeals and applied orally for a stay of proceedings.
The application was not opposed by counsel to the claimants, Paul Orikoro (SAN), nor by Lawrence Oko-Jaja (SAN), who represents Victor Oko-Jumbo, Orubienimigha Timothy, and Sokari Goodboy, the other defendants in the suit.
Source: Channels TV
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