Wike Optimistic as Tinubu Brokers Fresh Truce in Rivers Crisis

By Afolabi Nelson

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has expressed confidence that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly will honour agreements reached through President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to resolve the lingering political crisis in the state.

Wike spoke in Abuja after inspecting ongoing projects in the nation’s capital, stressing that President Tinubu’s leadership was instrumental in easing tensions between the executive and legislative arms in Rivers.

According to him, the President hosted a meeting on Sunday night at the Presidential Villa, attended by Wike, Governor Fubara, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and some elders from the state.

“I believe that by the grace of God, this will be the last time the President will be bothered with this issue and that this will be the last time the Rivers people will need to hear about this kind of discord,” Wike said.

Describing Tinubu as a father figure, Wike underscored the weight of the President’s counsel.

“The President is the father of the nation, and when a father speaks, his children must listen and do the needful to ensure peace and progress.

“The House of Assembly will do what they are supposed to do, and I am confident that the governor will also carry out the acts required of him to ensure that this peace is sustainable,” he added.

As part of the fresh truce brokered by the President between Fubara and his political benefactor, Wike, the governor is expected to forward a list of commissioner nominees to the House of Assembly this week for screening and approval.

Meanwhile, Governor Fubara credited one of his administration’s flagship infrastructure projects, the 50.15 kilometre Port Harcourt Ring Road, to the vision of his predecessor, Wike.

The Ring Road project, which includes five flyovers and a river crossing bridge, is expected to connect more than six local government areas in the state.