The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has raised concerns and called on Bola Tinubu to address the escalating political conflict between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Benjamin Okaba who serves as the president make the appeal to Tinubu at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja. He said that Wike and Fabura are at loggerheads over the control of political machinery in the oil-rich state.
Okaba said INC was concerned that the political crisis could affect other parts of the country if left unchecked.
“Sir, as the father of the nation, the alter ego of Nigeria, we are fervently appealing to you to call the FCT minister to order. This is for the sake of peace and security in Nigeria. Stop this drift towards national disintegration and anarchy now,’’ he said.
Okaba alleged that Wike’s power tussle with the Rivers governor might not be unconnected with the minister’s desire to enhance Tinubu’s electoral fortunes in the next general election.
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‘’We understand the dictates of politics and the need to harvest Rivers votes for the president’s second tenure elections. What we misunderstand is the thought that only the FCT minister can assist the president to win Rivers,” Okaba said.
He said Fubara had been faithful to Tinubu’s eight-point directive to both parties during the conflict resolution meeting held in Abuja.
‘’In October 2023, you called stakeholders to a meeting and tabled an eight-point directive to all parties involved to return peace to Rivers. Whereas many of our people considered your eight-point directive manifestly slanted against the governor’s interest and in favour of the FCT minister, the governor acceded to it,’’ he said.
Okaba explained that while the governor acted in good faith concerning the directive, the minister acted otherwise by refusing to withdraw the court cases he instituted.
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