How Assassination Attempt On Naval Officer Yerima Puts Wike In Difficult Position
Barely one week after lieutenant Yerima’s altercation with former governor Nyesom Wike, who is the current minister for the federal capital territory (FCT) Abuja, prominent Nigerian newspapers reported on 16th of November about an assassination attempt on the life of the lieutenant.
According to reports, the naval officer was trailed around 6:30pm on Sunday in Abuja by two hilux vans with no plate numbers. Noticing that he was being trailed, lieutenant Yerima tactically maneuvered the suspecious men, leading to his escape.
Reports claim the military hierarchy have given this development utmost importance and have
initiated investigation with the hope identifying those behind the assassination attempt on the life lieutenant Yerima.
Lieutenant Yerima was a week ago, unknown to the Nigerians and his existence insignificant to the theme of Nigeria’s socio-political issues.
However, his recent confrontation with Nyesom Wike over a piece of land in Abuja, has seemingly made the young lieutenant the centre of discussion on the Nigeria’s social media community and beyond.
Among the vast majority of young Nigerians, Lieutenant Yerima has become a symbol of resistance against oppression– one who tamed the incorrigible pride of the FCT minister. For the first time, Nigerians saw former governor Nyesom Wike retreating, his mission unaccomplished and his ego, smeared by a young fearless unknown lieutenant, whose mien exudes composure.
In the manner of a witch cried in the night, and the baby died in the morning, many have started linking the alleged assassination attempt on lieutenant Yerima to his altercation with the FCT minister a few days ago.
On the other hand, what if the FCT minister is being setup by his political enemies who see this as an opportunity to cause damage to the name of the FCT minister knowing full well that he is the first to come to mind should any harm befall the young lieutenant.
As a matter of fact, Nyesom Wike has become one of the most controversial Nigerian politicians, usually in the centre of major political crisis since his failed presidential bid in 2023.
The vociferous former governor of Rivers state led four governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as “G-five” to work against his party’s presidential candidate in 2023, after losing out on the party’s presidential ticket as well as vice presidential ticket.
His support for the rival political party, the APC which eventually won the presidential election, was rewarded with ministerial appointment amid allegation of anti-party against him by his political party. The former governor sought to undermine his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), grappling with the party’s national leadership untill his recent expulsion from the party during the just concluded November national convention.
Also, in Rivers state, Nyesom Wike’s political crisis with his governorship successor and political beneficiary, Sim Fubara, resulted in breakdown of law and order in the state.
But for president Tinubu’s intervention in the crisis by imposing state of emergency on the state and suspension of the political leadership structure of the state, the crisis would have aggravated.
Controversial as he is garrulous, former governor Nyesom Wike appears to have entered into a fight with all his erstwhile political benefactors through whom he rose into limelight: these includes former president Goodluck Jonathan, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Odili to mention a few.
Currently, there is ongoing speculation that is greatly disliked by the members of the president Tinubu’s cabinet and demands being made for his disengagement by the president especially in the face of his growing disreputation. But president Bola Ahmed Tinubu still considers him a valuable assets against the opposition parties.
Hence, former governor Nyesom Wike is a man who has by his hand created so many friends for himself and who also is not short of powerful enemies who presumably, might be taking advantage of the current situation against him.
