Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has blamed suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for a protest that disrupted an event hosted by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in Port Harcourt, calling it “disturbing and embarrassing.”
On Friday, a group of women walked out of the Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment event, demanding Fubara’s reinstatement. The programme was meant to support 500 women across the state, but the protest took center stage, sparking national attention.
In a statement released by his aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike apologized to President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady, saying the protest was an insult to the office of the president.
“Insult on anyone representing the First Lady of Nigeria in an event is a direct insult on the office of the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces,” Wike said.
The minister, currently on official duty in China, accused Fubara of being insincere in his peace efforts, especially after reports that the suspended governor met with President Tinubu in London in April to resolve the Rivers political crisis.
“It is not enough to visit people and plead for peace. Those who truly want peace must act like it,” Wike said. “How can you say you want peace but sponsor people to insult the president and his wife? That is hypocrisy.”
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Wike further accused Fubara’s supporters of damaging the image of Rivers State, stating that such actions won’t bring lasting peace.
“All those shenanigans won’t bring peace. I am sure they know that. They are not sincere with their up-and-down pleadings for peace,” he added.
He strongly condemned the protest and reiterated his support for the First Lady.
“We apologise to our First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not reflect the values of Rivers State,” Wike said.
The walkout is the latest chapter in the ongoing Rivers political crisis, which has deepened since March 18, when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state due to escalating tensions.
Following the emergency declaration, Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state assembly were suspended for six months. The president then appointed retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator. Ibas later suspended all political appointees installed by Fubara.
Governor Fubara returned to Nigeria on Friday after a two-week vacation abroad, arriving just as tensions around the Rivers political crisis flared up once again.
