Rivers crisis: Tinubu showing tacit support for Wike, says group

A group, the Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), has accused President Bola Tinubu of being in sympathy with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against the interest of eight million residents in the state.

The group said it was sad that the President values and treasures an individual due to political benefits more than millions of the people.

The convener of the group, Sunnie Chukwumele, claimed that the actions of Wike in the ongoing political crisis between him and the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were enough to caution him (Wike) as they are hampering peace.

He noted that Wike, who exited office last year, should focus on his new role as FCT Minister and allow Fubara to govern the state peacefully, but he regretted that Wike’s actions are causing unrest.

He also regretted the Presidency’s selective amnesia and inaction in the worrisome situation.

Speaking on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Chukwumele told newsmen that the actions of Tinubu’s appointees from Rivers State are misrepresenting what he is known for and are beginning to create bad blood and present the President in a bad light.

He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, your men are misrepresenting you and what we have known you to stand for as a true democrat. These men are beginning to paint you with the colour of a despot.

“This is a clarion call by the people of Rivers State for you to wake up to the responsibility of protecting the lives and property of Rivers people and residents. We should not be seen as a conquerable people. You are the father of the nation; we pray you act as such now.

“We are afraid that the body language of the Nigerian Judiciary on the Rivers State crisis, wherein conflicting judicial pronouncements regarding matters emanating from the state, which are stoking and exacerbating the crisis, has remained unaddressed by the National Judicial Council.

“We are therefore compelled to state as follows: that after a careful analysis of the situation, we accuse the Presidency of selective amnesia and inaction in the happenings in Rivers State, with tacit support to their colleague and Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike, to achieve his aim of state capture in order to annex and control Rivers State and her resources.

“That the Presidency under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is sadly in sympathy and support of his Minister of the FCT against the people of Rivers State. Mr. President is more interested in an individual than in eight million citizens with not less than three million Rivers votes.”