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 National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is intensifying its campaign against substance abuse by proposing mandatory drug integrity tests for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and individuals preparing for marriage.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), explained the rationale behind the proposal during a meeting with the NYSC leadership in Abuja on April 23, 2025.
Speaking to NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, Marwa clarified that the tests are not intended to be punitive but are part of a broader strategy to curb drug abuse and intervene early in cases of dependence.
READ ALSO: NYSC Pulls Out Corps Members From Benue Community
“It is always better to detect drug use early before it gets to addiction, which eventually could get to psychiatric problems, and it becomes a danger to the user and society,” Marwa stated.
While welcoming the new NYSC chief, Marwa commended the scheme as “a national treasure and a veritable instrument of national unity.”
He highlighted the alarming rate of drug use in the country and called for collective efforts in tackling the challenge.
“The drug scourge has continued to devastate our kids, families, and communities everywhere. There’s nowhere you go in the country that you don’t have a drug abuse problem,” he said. “One in seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 uses drugs.”
Marwa emphasized that while NDLEA is working hard to restrict access and availability of drugs, reducing demand is equally important.
He urged NYSC to play a more active role in this regard.
“You have mentioned our efforts to cut off access and availability of these drugs but beyond that, we have to work with all stakeholders, including NYSC to ensure drastic reduction in the demand for drugs by our youths, and one of our strategies to address this is through our drug integrity test, which we’re advocating that NYSC should embrace for corps members.”
He also praised the introduction of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in NYSC camps, describing them as a positive development, while calling for further collaboration in areas such as prevention, counseling, and rehabilitation.
“This is a major drug demand reduction effort. In the same way we said, if you are getting married, both the bride and the groom should bring a drug-free certificate,” he added.
According to Marwa, early detection remains key to managing substance abuse and preventing it from evolving into more severe health or social issues.
Residents of Istanbul were jolted by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, which struck the Marmara Sea near the city’s western fringes, prompting widespread concern but causing no immediate casualties.
The quake, which occurred at 12:49 p.m. local time (0949 GMT), originated in Silivri, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
“An earthquake of 6.2 magnitude occurred in Silivri, Marmara Sea, Istanbul,” he confirmed on X, formerly Twitter. Yerlikaya also noted that tremors were felt in nearby provinces.
READ ALSO: Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Myanmar, Shakes Southeast Asia
Following the initial tremor, Turkey’s disaster management authority, AFAD, reported three more earthquakes ranging from 4.4 to 4.9 in magnitude.
The seismic activity sent people fleeing onto the streets, with many seen anxiously checking their phones or making calls.
“I just felt earthquake, I’ve got to get out,” said a decorator who dashed out of a fourth-floor apartment near Galata Tower. He declined to give his name, visibly shaken by the experience.
Despite the intensity, there were no reports of injuries or building collapses in the city of approximately 16 million people.
“Until now, we have no information about any buildings collapsing,” the governor’s office stated, urging residents to avoid entering structures that may have sustained damage.
Reassuring citizens, the Istanbul municipality also confirmed, “No serious cases have been reported so far following the earthquake in Istanbul,” in a post on X.
Tremors from the quake were reportedly felt as far as Sofia, Bulgaria, according to AFP journalists in the capital.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as aftershocks persist and damage assessments are conducted across the region.
As violent attacks and killings continue to plague parts of Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia has ruled out the need for a state of emergency, insisting instead on immediate and absolute support from the Federal Government to combat the crisis.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, Governor Alia said the security situation, though dire, is not beyond the capacity of his administration to manage.
However, he emphasized that increased federal assistance is crucial to fully restoring peace to the troubled state.
READ MORE: No Safety Guarantee For Unscheduled Visitors To Benue – Gov Alia
“What we need is emergency help for now. We need absolute support,” the governor stated. “The federal government is supporting — they sent two armoured tanks that came in. Our situation had changed. We had a better narrative, but what we need to do is to get our people back home, to drive out the invaders… Calling for any emergency does not occur here.”
Alia blamed the persistent violence on armed herders, many of whom he claims are non-Nigerians. According to him, the assailants have displaced local farmers and occupied ancestral lands, creating a humanitarian and security crisis that needs urgent attention.
The governor also pointed to progress made under his administration, noting a reduction in the number of local government areas under attack from 17 to just six.
“We couldn’t have trimmed it from 17 local governments in the front lines of the attacks to nine and then now to six, which means we have the capability to do this — but we need help. And that is a fact,” he said.
Governor Alia reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the people of Benue and restoring displaced communities, but stressed that federal collaboration remains vital to achieving lasting peace in the state.
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