Rivers LG chair orders removal of Wike’s name from Secretariat
The newly inaugurated chairperson of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has ordered the removal of the name of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, from a building at the council’s secretariat.
The administrative block, formerly named after Wike, will now be called “Obi Wali House.”
Ihunwo issued this directive on Monday during his visit to the council secretariat, just hours after suspected hoodlums set fire to the Ikwerre and Emohua local government secretariats.
This order is one of Ihunwo’s first official actions following his election in a local poll held on Saturday. The police had declined to provide security during the elections, citing a court order, which heightened tensions in the area.
However, following the conclusion of the election, the police lifted the seal on all council secretariats in the state.
The hoodlums, who attacked the two local government secretariats, struck after police officers vacated the premises, causing significant damage in the absence of security operatives.
Ihunwo said in a video posted on his x handle on Monday, “I want to advise Rivers State Police Command, let them be neutral.
“For this local government, we will protect and die, they have burnt Ikwerre, and Emouhua (council secretariats). We are ready for them.”
“This name here,” he said, pointing to the top of a duplex in the council secretariat with the inscription “Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike ADMIN BLOCK.”
“He (Wike) does not allow the people to rest. On that note, as the chairperson of the council I have renamed it Obi Wali House,” he said amidst cheers.
He said the changes would be made tomorrow morning and dared anyone to challenge his decision.
Wike first served as chairperson of Obio/Akpor local government council for two terms ending in 2007.
He was thereafter appointed as chief of staff to then-Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, a position he served before he was appointed as minister of state for Education under the administration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
Jonathan’s wife, Patience, who hails from Rivers State, helped Mr Wike to become the governor of the oil-rich state in 2015.
He was reelected in 2019 serving through 2023 after which he was appointed the minister of FCT by President Bola Tinubu.
Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara have been fighting each other over the control of the political structure in Rivers.
Late Mr Wali hailed from Obio/Akpor. He was elected senator to represent Port Harcourt District.
The late senator was murdered at home in his bedroom by suspected assassins on 26 April 1993.
In his memorial, the Rivers State Government in 2014 commissioned the Obi Wali Conference Centre in Port Harcourt to honour his political and literary contributions.