Chijioke Ihunwo, the newly inaugurated chairperson of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, has ordered the removal of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s name from the council secretariat’s administrative block.
The building, previously named after Wike, will now be called “Obi Wali House.”
Ihunwo gave this directive on Monday during his first official visit to the secretariat, just hours after suspected hoodlums set fire to the Ikwerre and Emohua local government secretariats.
This move marks one of Ihunwo’s first actions following his election in the local government polls held on Saturday.
The elections were marked by heightened tensions after the police, citing a court order, refused to provide security at polling stations. After the elections concluded, the police lifted restrictions on all council secretariats in the state, but the damage had already been done by the hoodlums who attacked the Ikwerre and Emohua secretariats after security personnel vacated the premises.
In a video shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Ihunwo stated, “I want to advise the Rivers State Police Command to remain neutral. We will protect this local government with our lives. They have already burned the Ikwerre and Emohua council secretariats, and we are prepared for any challenges.”
Referring to the administrative block previously named after Wike, Ihunwo pointed to the building’s sign and declared, “He (Wike) doesn’t let the people rest. As chairperson of this council, I have renamed it Obi Wali House,” a decision that was met with cheers from his audience. He added that the change would take effect the following morning and dared anyone to oppose his decision.
Nyesom Wike, a prominent political figure, previously served two terms as chairperson of the Obio/Akpor local government council, concluding in 2007. He went on to become the chief of staff to then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi and later served as Minister of State for Education under former President Goodluck Jonathan, before eventually becoming Governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023. He was appointed Minister of the FCT by President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have been in conflict over control of the political structure in Rivers State.
The building’s new name, Obi Wali House, honors the late Obi Wali, a political and literary figure from Obio/Akpor who was elected senator representing Port Harcourt. He was tragically assassinated in his home on April 26, 1993. In recognition of his contributions, the Rivers State Government named the Obi Wali Conference Centre in Port Harcourt after him in 2014.