TheCable

Benjamin Okoba, the president general of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), says President Bola Tinubu should call Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), to stop his “political interference” in Rivers state.

Okoba warned that the safety of the oil installations in the state is at stake if Wike continues to “politically victimised” Sim Fubara, governor of Rivers.

In recent times, there has been a raging feud between Fubara and Wike, the immediate former governor of River.

The political crisis has affected the Rivers house of assembly after 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

On Wednesday, Fubara presented the state’s 2024 proposed budget to the assembly with just five lawmakers in attendance while in about 48 hours, nine commissioners resigned from the cabinet.

Speaking with journalists on Friday after a solidarity walk to the Rivers state government house in Port Harcourt, Okoba urged President Bola Tinubu to call the Wike to order.

He said the feud between the two politicians may cause a breakdown of law and order in the state.

“The political logjam in the state orchestrated by the battle for the soul of the seat of power between the FCT Minister  Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Speaker Edison Ehie and other members loyal to him necessitated the solidarity walk by different socio-cultural groups, including members of the federal house of representatives in support of the Rivers State Governor,” Okoba said. 

Okoba said the INC is worried by the inability of the governor to focus on governance due to the political crisis.

Speaking also, Tamuno Kporkpor, the eastern zone chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), said the association is shocked and “wondered why anyone would want the governor out of office without any evidence of infraction”.

Kporkpor said the peaceful protest would continue until Fubara heaved a sigh of relief.