The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has urged the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to embrace sincerity by clearly communicating his desires to President Bola Tinubu, instead of “saying something today, and doing another thing tomorrow.”
Wike’s advice was conveyed in a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
He stated, “It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace; those who genuinely want peace work and act for it.
“These are the same people pleading for peace, but at the same time doing things that are contrary to what they are pleading for.
“How can you say you want peace and at the same time, you are sponsoring people to insult everyone, including the President and his wife?
“All those shenanigans won’t bring peace, and I am sure they know that, because they are not sincere with their up and down pleadings for peace.
“As for me and those who subscribe to my leadership, we condemn in totality that yesterday’s show of shame and we apologise to our First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not represent the characters and ideals of the people of Rivers State.”
Wike’s remarks come amidst a continuing political rivalry between himself and Fubara.
Meanwhile, the minister criticized the walkout on Senator Oluremi Tinubu by a group of women allegedly loyal to Fubara during the Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment programme in Port Harcourt. He described the incident as an embarrassment to Rivers State and apologised to the First Lady and President Bola Tinubu.
He noted, “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 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as a leader in Rivers State, I apologise.”
The programme, designed to benefit 500 women in Rivers State with empowerment items, was marred by the protest.
Speaking from China, where he is attending official engagements, Wike described the incident as “very disturbing and embarrassing,” and urged supporters of the suspended governor to refrain from actions that ridicule the state.