The Ijaw National Congress (INC), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to rein-in FCT minister Nyesom Wike over the crisis in Rivers State.
Its president, Benjamin Okaba appealed to President Tinubu at a news conference in Abuja, yesterday.
Recall that the FCT Minister and the Rivers State governor, Siminialayi Fubara 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. He said, ‘’Mr. President, 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’’.
Okaba alleged that Wike’s power tussle with the Fubara might not be unconnected with the minister’s desire to enhance Tinubu’s electoral fortunes in the next general election.. According to him, Fubara had been faithful to Tinubu’s eight-point directive to both parties during the conflict resolution meeting held in Abuja.
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. He added that less than three weeks after the presidential directives, Martins Amaewhule-led 25 Rivers House of Assembly lawmakers to defect to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
He further said Fubara obeyed the Supreme Court order which ruled that LGAs must be administered by elected officers, without which funds must be withheld.
According to him, Fubara worked assiduously to actualise the return of elected officers to the local government areas in accordance with Tinubu’s desires and backed by the Supreme Court judgment. He also said that Fubara holds permanent olive branches, sending constant peace emissaries to the FCT Minister.
‘’So again we appeal to Mr. President to call the FCT Minister to order, as a stitch in time, they say, saves nine’’, he said.
