In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara finds his administration under renewed siege as the state House of Assembly launches an investigation into alleged age falsification by Chief Judge Justice Simeon Amadi. At its 135th legislative session, the Assembly resolved to involve the Department of State Services in verifying claims made by House Leader Major Jack—claims that label the misconduct a “serious offence” demanding a thorough inquiry.
Speaker Rt. Hon Martins Amaewhule, citing Section 128 of the Constitution, defended the probe while accusing Governor Fubara of obstructing the appearance of key ministry and agency heads before the House. Notably, Justice Amadi—screened for the chief judgeship about three years ago when former Governor Wike was at the helm—has been linked to unverified reports that he declined an alleged N5 billion bribe and luxury housing offers abroad, a decision interpreted by some as a move to sideline the governor.
Political commentators, including former House member Hon Ogbonna Nwuke, suggest that the Assembly’s actions are designed to intimidate the Chief Judge as part of a broader strategy to pave the way for Fubara’s eventual impeachment. This development follows explosive comments by Nyesom Wike, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, who boldly stated that removing Fubara from power would not destabilize the state—a remark made just hours after a high-profile meeting in Abuja between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum urging adherence to the Supreme Court’s directive.
Wike’s inflammatory stance and his disparaging remarks about the Ijaw community have further fueled the crisis. The Supreme Egbesu Assembly—a revered ancestral institution among the Ijaw—warned that if impeachment proceeds, they will “shock” President Tinubu. Their admonition was echoed by the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), both of which decried the ethnic overtones in Wike’s rhetoric. Sergeant Werinipre Digifa of the Egbesu Assembly sharply criticized the minister’s audacity, asserting that the persistent harassment and insults directed at the Ijaw people will not go unanswered.
Adding fuel to the fire, the INC rebuked Wike’s remark that the Ijaws were merely a “minority of minorities,” emphasizing that the Ijaw are Nigeria’s fourth largest ethnic group—with over 40 million people—and a cornerstone of Rivers State’s heritage. Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the INC, warned that such divisive tactics not only undermine the state’s unity but also serve as a prelude to political isolation for Wike himself. He suggested that as one empire wanes, another inevitably rises, hinting at a seismic shift in the region’s political landscape ahead of 2027.
As the tension escalates and alliances are tested, all eyes remain on Rivers State. With political maneuvering intensifying on multiple fronts, the unfolding drama raises urgent questions about the future stability of the region and the delicate balance of power in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
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