The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), USA, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, as a crucial step to resolving the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, NADECO USA President Dr. Lloyd Ukwu alleged that Wike’s influence has been central to the turmoil in the state, warning that peace would remain unattainable unless decisive action is taken.
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“The main problem in Rivers State today, as far as this crisis is concerned, is the Minister of the FCT,” Ukwu said. “Rivers people know where the problem lies. The President must call him to order. Wike is his employee.”
Dr. Ukwu also highlighted ongoing impeachment proceedings in Rivers, which he said underscore the urgency for the federal government to intervene. He warned that President Tinubu would be held responsible if the state’s crisis escalates without corrective measures.
On national security, the NADECO leader expressed concern over worsening insurgency and banditry in Northern Nigeria, noting that credible elections cannot take place in areas under terrorist control ahead of the 2027 polls.
He called for a six-month state of emergency in affected Northern states, or all 19 Northern states if necessary, to enable coordinated federal security operations.
Ukwu proposed limited international support, including intelligence sharing and training from the United States, while emphasizing that operations should remain under Nigerian control.
He warned that if insecurity continues and large populations are disenfranchised, the 2027 elections would lack credibility.
NADECO USA President stressed that urgent action is needed to address both the Rivers political crisis and Northern insecurity to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
