The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has addressed speculations surrounding the involvement of President Bola Tinubu in the resolution of the political crisis gripping Rivers State. Speaking on Sunday during a thanksgiving ceremony for the former Commissioner for Works in Rivers State, George Kelly Alabo, Wike clarified that he did not personally invite President Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing political turmoil.
Wike attributed the President’s involvement to the calls made by the residents of Rivers State and Nigerians at large, seeking intervention to quell the political impasse between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The former Governor of Rivers State emphasized that the intervention was not at his request but in response to the appeals from the public.
The political crisis in Rivers State has been marked by significant incidents, including the bombing of the State House of Assembly, lawmakers defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), parallel sittings, an impeachment plot against the governor, the demolition of the Assembly complex, and resignations of pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s cabinet.
President Tinubu recently met with key stakeholders, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike, to address the tensions in Rivers State. The three-hour meeting resulted in a truce and resolutions aimed at resolving the political crisis in the South-South state.
Despite the positive outcome of the meeting, Wike noted that there have been criticisms of President Tinubu’s involvement, with some questioning the constitutional authority for such intervention. The Minister urged Nigerians to focus on the collective goal of restoring stability to Rivers State rather than scrutinizing the means employed to achieve it.
