By Adesina Soyooye
Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has alleged that the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, is backing suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, because the Governor bribed the Association.
Wike made this allegation on Thursday when he addressed some Journalists in his office.
The allegation stemmed from the demand by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, rtd, that the NBA returns the N300m given to it by the State to host the Association’s Annual Conference.
The NBA has granted the State the hosting right for the 2025 Annual Conference but withdrew it last week over the suspension of democratically elected officials – Governor Fubara, his Deputy, Dr Ngozi Ordu, Members of the House of Assembly – and the appointment of a Sole Administrator who was the Chief of Naval Staff, by President Bola Tinubu.
The NBA had condemned the declaration of a State of Emergency in the State by President Tinubu on 18 March, 2025, and asked the President to reinstate the democratically elected officials of Rivers. The Association had, also, earlier, condemned the sacking of elected Local Council Chairmen and Councilors by the Supreme Court.
For withdrawing the hosting rights, and giving same to Enugu State, the Rivers State Government asked the NBA to return the N300m. But it is a demand the NBA is not prepared to grant.
In a response, the NBA argued that the money given the Association by the Fubara Government was not for hosting rights but a gift just as other States and Organizations had given it to help with sponsorship.
Speaking to Journalists in his office, Wike, himself, a member of the NBA, said Ibas has exposed the NBA. But for the withdrawal of the hosting rights, and the demand by Ibas, Wike said, nobody would have known of the N300m to NBA. He asked the NBA to return the money to the Rivers State Government.
Wike submitted that Fubara bribed the Association with the sum of N300m, and said that explains the NBA’s condemnation of the State of Emergency and the sack of Local Council Officials. Worse, Wike said, the money was not appropriated.
Reminded that he did the same a couple of times when he was the Governor of the State, Wike said the monies he gave out were captured in his budgets as “grants”.
Among the several millions Wike gave out include the N500 million he gave to the Benue State Government under his friend, former Governor Samuel Ortom, the N300m he gave to the Lagos State Association of Wives of Government Officials and much more.
“This is like the kettle calling the pot black”, noted a Rivers State Elder.
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Is Wike a Christian, Moslem, Traditionalist or Atheist?. I fear for this foolish reprobate playing a demigod. Where are Wike’s true family and friends????????. SHAME. You that was picked from the gutter??????. Humility has eluded you Wike. The dirge is sounding. I wish you could read this and return to your God.