President Bola Tinubu has fired a signal to his combatant FCT minister Nyesom Wike that he’s on a solo in his needless fight against his successor Siminalayi Fubara, whom from all indications Rivers State people are solidly behind.
President Tinubu transmitted the warning to Mr Wike through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who while speaking on TVC on Sunday said that his principal will not take sides in the political fight, which has put governance on mute and left Rivers people suffering.
According to Nguerle, if anybody (veiled reference to Mr Wike, a staunch ally of Tinubu) expects the president to take sides in the matter, that person would be disappointed. He stressed that President Tinubu won’t allow any attempt to frustrate the Rivers State Government.
Recall that Mr Wike is credited to have singlehandedly delivered Rivers to Tinubu during the discredited 2023 Presidential election, which helped the former Lagos State governor realize his lifelong ambition of becoming president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For that, Wike, who unsuccessfullly ran for president himself, was handsomely rewarded with the lucrative minister of the FCT position. It was the first time a southerner held that office in a democratic dispensation. This to political watchers underlined how deeply grateful Tinubu was to the former Rivers State governor for the decisive role he played in making his dream come true.
But it now appears that Mr Wike’s unrelenting meddlesomeness in Rivers, a state he governed like an emperor for eight years, is beginning to crack the good relationship he enjoyed with the president. Not to mention his other controversial policies, actions and pettiness as the Chief Executive in Abuja.
Ngelale’s comments are indication that Tinubu may has started distancing himself from Wike.
He said: “I believe that anyone who believes that by their actions, whether it’s from the federal level, state level or the legislative branch in the state or the executive branch in the state, if they are banking on Mr. President to take sides on this matter, they’re mistaking and they’ll be disappointed.
“Mr. President will not do that. What he will do is to ensure that everybody has what they need in order to work.
“He will also ensure that any attempt to frustrate the operation of the Rivers State government in conducting its affairs in a way that it would benefit the Rivers people, that’s obviously is not going to be allowed by this President or anybody else.
“So, I think there’s a need for all stakeholders to understand that Mr President won’t take sides.”
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