Rivers: Wike, others orchestrating ‘failed coup attempts’ against Fubara, says CUPP

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has strongly criticised the camp of former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing it of orchestrating “failed coup attempts” against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

In a press release issued on Wednesday and signed by CUPP’s National Spokesperson, Comrade Mark Adebayo, the coalition warned that the political crisis in Rivers State, allegedly fueled by Wike’s camp, poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

“It is unfortunate that those fomenting violent crises in Rivers State do not realize how dangerous it is to the current democratic dispensation because if the crisis comes to a head, it has the potential to disrupt the current Republic and reverse the country’s democratic gains of almost three decades,” the statement read.

CUPP accused Wike and his political allies of repeatedly attempting to remove Governor Fubara from office through undemocratic means, causing frustration within their camp due to their unsuccessful efforts.

“There have been series of coup attempts against the current Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as being instigated by the FCT Minister and the state’s immediate past Governor and his political camp. This has led to extreme frustration due to the failed coup attempts by the camp loyal to the FCT Minister,” the statement added.

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The coalition further alleged that Wike’s camp is actively working to block the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment on local government administration in the state. It claimed that they are attempting to obstruct the presentation of the appropriation bill to deny the Governor access to funds needed for local government elections.

“The Wike camp also doesn’t want the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on the state’s local government, as they are plotting against the local government areas’ election budget presentation. Their tactic is to block the presentation of the appropriation bill so that the state Governor will not have access to resources to conduct elections in the local government areas of the state,” CUPP stated.

The coalition called on the international community and concerned Nigerians to intervene, warning that the crisis in Rivers State could escalate and threaten the nation’s democratic stability.

“We wish to alert Nigerians and the international community to the fact that those orchestrating the Rivers State crisis on the prompting of the FCT Minister and other antidemocratic elements constitute a significant danger to the current democratic dispensation by their disruptive extra-constitutional activities aimed at throwing the state into the darkness of unmitigated crisis that may spread across the country and consume our democracy,” the statement warned.

CUPP urged Wike and his allies to allow Rivers State to function peacefully, accusing them of attempting to cripple the state’s finances and governance.

“They are seriously frustrated that all their shenanigans to impeach the Governor have failed woefully so far and will continue to fail. Therefore, they want to cripple the state financially by not passing the appropriation bill into law and allowing the state government access to funds critical to the development of the state and the conduct of elections into the LGAs,” it said.

“Their actions are very injurious to the interests of Rivers State and its people. In general terms, their antidemocratic shenanigans are injurious to the democratic stability of Nigeria. Wike and his cabal of political jobbers must let Rivers State breathe, as they have already pushed the Rivers people to their utmost limit,” the statement concluded.