A former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Asukewe Ikoawaji, has described the current administration as “kindergarten” and criticised the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its silence over moves to impeach Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Ikoawaji also warned that the ruling party risks losing the 2027 general elections if it fails to deliver on its promises to Nigerians.
The elder statesman and member of the Rivers State Elders Council spoke exclusively with PUNCH Online on Thursday night via telephone while reacting to the renewed impeachment threat against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
He accused the APC of repeating the mistakes that led to the Peoples Democratic Party’s defeat in the 2015 general elections, insisting that the wave of defections into the ruling party was a sign of weakness rather than strength.
“The APC has failed Nigerians in the same way the PDP failed before the 2015 elections. That was when the PDP started wooing governors from other parties because it had lost the confidence of the people. That is exactly what is happening now,” he said.
Ikoawaji faulted the APC national leadership for what he described as a “studied silence” over the impeachment moves by lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly against Fubara, whom he referred to as an APC governor.
“The governor is in the APC. The majority of local government chairmen are in the APC. The majority of members of the House of Assembly are also in the APC. At the national level, the APC controls the Federal Government,” he said.
“So what is the APC national secretariat doing? How can a ruling party allow its members to begin impeachment proceedings against their own governor and remain silent? This is not something to laugh about.”
While criticising the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his role in the Rivers political crisis, Ikoawaji also took aim at Governor Fubara, accusing him of showing signs of weakness.
“If you are a governor, you should behave like one. You are answerable to the people who elected you,” he said, adding that Rivers people would not support what he termed a “kindergarten governor” in the next election.
Recalling his time as Deputy National Chairman of the ANPP, Ikoawaji lamented what he described as a lack of understanding of party constitutions among current APC leaders.
“It is unfortunate that many people at the apex of the party do not even understand the party constitution. The Bible says a house divided against itself cannot stand,” he stated.
He also criticised Wike’s visits to local government areas in Rivers State alongside APC chieftains, describing them as premature campaigns conducted without official party symbols.
“That tells you that these are kindergarten politicians. The FCT minister is not a member of the APC. He was expelled by his party, the PDP. Yet he goes on grassroots campaigns, and APC leaders follow him,” he said.
According to him, the absence of APC insignia during such outings underscored the party’s leadership failure.
Ikoawaji further accused the Federal Government of failing to address Nigerians’ immediate economic hardships, dismissing arguments that long-term gains would justify present suffering.
“A hungry man cannot wait three years for the economy to stabilise. Where is the electricity Nigerians were promised? Even the Presidential Villa does not rely on public power supply,” he said.
He concluded by warning that Rivers State voters would resist poor leadership choices in the 2027 elections.
“Mark my words: in 2027, Rivers State will not support a kindergarten governor,” he declared.
