Presidency: Tinubu Won’t Take Sides in Rivers, or Allow State Government to be Frustrated

•Wike, not Atiku, infuriated Obi out of PDP, Atiku’s aide, Ibe, declares 

•Coalition seeks president’s reintervention in state’s crisis

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The presidency has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would neither take sides in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State nor allow any attempt by anyone to frustrate the state government.

This was as a media aide to former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Paul Ibe, has disclosed that contrary to beliefs, it was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and not his principal, who frustrated Mr. Peter Obi out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But a concerned group, the Rivers Coalition for Good Governance, has urged Tinubu to re-intervene in the political crisis rocking the state.

However, speaking on a television programme monitored in Abuja, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, said there was the need for all stakeholders to understand that the president would not take sides in the crisis.

Ngelale also said President Tinubu had told the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and others that he would not take sides in the ongoing crisis rocking Rivers State.

The presidential adviser said all those assuming that the president would take side with them in the Rivers State political crisis would be disappointed.

“I believe that anyone who believes that by their actions, whether it is 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 are mistaking and they will 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 is obviously not going to be allowed by this president or anybody else,” he said.

‘Wike, Not Atiku Frustrated Obi Out of PDP’

Media aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has disclosed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and not Atiku, was instrumental to the exit of Peter Obi from the PDP.

Ibe said Atiku wanted the PDP to zone the 2023 Presidential ticket to the South East but Wike worked against it.

Obi was the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 Presidential election but dumped the party for the Labour Party (LP), ahead of the 2023 Presidential election.

He later became a force in the last general election, securing over six million votes.

Since the PDP and LP lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 election, the leading opposition party has yet to resolve its internal crisis.

However, Ibe said, Atiku was ready to zone the PDP presidential ticket to the South East.

In an interview monitored by THISDAY in Abuja, Ibe said Wike frustrated the move to zone PDP’s ticket to the South East.

“Atiku did not force Peter Obi out of the party, Wike was instrumental to the exit of Obi because Wike had promoted the zoning of the presidency to the South.

“Atiku Abubakar had said he was prepared to get himself off the ticket if the party zoned the ticket to the South East.

“Wike frustrated that effort because he believed that if it was zoned to the South, not the South East, he would be in the best position to be able to get the ticket.”

Coalition Seeks Tinubu’s Re-Intervention

A group, Rivers Coalition for Good Governance, has urged President Bola Tinubu to re-intervene in the political crisis rocking the state.

The coalition called for a new accord anchored on the constitution to guarantee stability and allow the governor, Sim Fubara, to focus on governance without distractions.

In a statement by its Conveners, Mr Soala Jumbo and Inyefai Wobo, the coalition expressed deep concern over the brewing political crisis in the State.

“Despite the clear provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulate that such defections result in the loss of their seats, these individuals have continued to operate as members of the House because the Speaker of the House at the time of defection who ought to have declared the seats vacant is part of the defectors presenting a severe conflict of interest,” he said.

According to the coalition, the defectors have continued to challenge the authority of the duly elected governor of the state, a situation which should not be allowed to persist.

It, therefore, demanded a new accord that would allow the governor to govern the state without interference, while also respecting the historical significance of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s tenure as the immediate past governor.