NEWS
Wike Frustrated As Fubara Impeachment Plot Fails – CUPP
Amid the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has condemned the actions of the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
The coalition described the ongoing conflict as a series of “failed coup attempts” against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.
In a press release signed by its national spokesperson, Comrade Mark Adebayo, on Wednesday, CUPP expressed concern over the persistent political tensions in the state, cautioning that if the crisis is not resolved, it could have severe implications for the country’s democracy.
READ ALSO: Fubara’s Impeachment Won’t Cause Crisis – Wike
“It is unfortunate that those fomenting violent crisis 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.
The coalition alleged that Wike’s camp has repeatedly attempted to undermine Governor Fubara’s administration, primarily through failed impeachment moves.
CUPP emphasized that these efforts have been rejected by the people of Rivers State, who remain firmly behind the governor.
“The desperation to impeach Governor Fubara has failed so far and will continue to fail because it is not only antidemocratic but also against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the good people of Rivers State, who have remained unequivocal in their support for Governor Similayi Fubara from day one of his administration,” the coalition stated.
Beyond the impeachment attempts, CUPP accused Wike’s loyalists of deliberately obstructing governance by attempting to block the presentation of the appropriation bill, which includes funding for local government elections.
The coalition linked this to a broader scheme to prevent the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment on local government administration in the state.
“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,” the statement alleged.
CUPP urged both Nigerians and the international community to take note of the crisis and intervene before the situation deteriorates further.
The group described the ongoing conflict as a deliberate effort to destabilize the state and, by extension, the country’s democracy.
“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 concluded its statement by urging Wike and his allies to step back and allow peace to return to Rivers State.
“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,” it said.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
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A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
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