Recent tensions in Rivers State have escalated, with serious allegations made against Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Demola Olarenwaju, who serves as the Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy to former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has accused Wike of attempting to incite chaos by involving the police and the court in a political dispute.
Olarenwaju’s comments came in response to an incident involving Governor Sim Fubara. Reports indicate that Governor Fubara visited the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) headquarters amid an attempt by the police to halt local government elections scheduled for Saturday. This intervention by law enforcement raised concerns about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process.
Olarenwaju stated that Wike’s actions seem designed to provoke unrest in the state. He suggested that Wike is leveraging his influence to manipulate the situation, asserting that the use of police and legal systems for personal or political gain threatens the stability of Rivers State. “Wike is trying to use the police and court to set Rivers State on fire,” Olarenwaju claimed, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
The backdrop to this conflict includes a longstanding rivalry between Wike and Fubara, as well as broader political tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This political strife has raised alarms among citizens and political observers who worry about the potential for violence and disorder.
As the situation unfolds, many are calling for a peaceful resolution and urging all parties to prioritize the democratic process. Local government elections are critical for governance and community representation, and interference by political figures can undermine public trust in the electoral system.
The unfolding events in Rivers State are being closely monitored, with citizens hoping for calm and a fair electoral process. The accusations made by Olarenwaju against Wike underscore the fragile state of politics in Rivers and the potential consequences of political maneuvering that disregards the rule of law.
Posting on X, Olarenwaju wrote: “Tinubu’s Minister, Wike is dragging the courts and the police into his political beef with his successor Governor Sim Fubara whom the people are with.
“It is a shame to him and his record as a former Governor that he wants to set his own state on fire, but Fubara is fully onground.
“Terribly sad and absolutely condemnable that Nyesom Wike in connivance with the IGP are fomenting trouble in Rivers. This is entirely on APC under Tinubu’s watch.
“A sad throwback to the dangerous federal gangsterism days of early Democracy that Rivers’ people must resist.”
