The Ijaw National Congress (INC) worldwide has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call Nyesom Wike, the Minister of FCT, to order, News About Nigeria reports.
President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, made the appeal while speaking at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
He noted that his call is in lieu of the crisis ongoing in Rivers State, stating that the control of political machinery in the oil-rich state has brought Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara to loggerheads.
He stated that the INC was concerned that if left unchecked, the political crisis could affect other parts of the country.
Okaba also alleged that Wike’s power tussle with Fubara might not be unconnected with the minister’s desire to enhance Tinubu’s electoral fortunes in the next general polls.
He maintained that Fubara has been faithful to Tinubu’s 8-point directive to both parties during the conflict resolution meeting held in Abuja, adding that while the governor acted in good faith with respect to the directive, the minister acted otherwise by refusing to withdraw the court cases instituted by him.
He stated, “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.
“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.
“In October 2023, you called stakeholders to a meeting and tabled an 8-point directive to all parties involved to return peace to Rivers.
“Whereas many of our people considered your 8-Point directive as manifestly slanted against the governor’s interest and in favour of the FCT minister, the governor acceded to it.”
Speaking on the just-held local government election in the state, Okaba said that Fubara obeyed the Supreme Court order that Local Government Areas in Nigeria must be administered by elected officers, without which funds must be withheld.
He said 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 judgement.
