On October 7, 2024, the presidency came up with a press release captioned “President Tinubu decries violence in Rivers, directs police to provide security to local government offices”.
It was signed by the Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
It was a reaction to the activities of arsonists in the aftermath of the last local government council elections in Rivers State.
The opening paragraph states that:
“President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law”.
The direct mentioning of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s name, among other unnamed persons, calls to question the intention of Bayo Onanuga. It smacks of veiled mischief and guileful misrepresentation.
It is an attempt to portray Governor Fubara as the main antagonist in the Rivers State crisis. It aims at projecting the governor as the central character that fuels the crisis. It creates the wrong impression that the governor acts without restraint.
Contrary to the clever misrepresentation by Bayo Onanuga, it is public knowledge that Governor Siminalayi Fubara exercises unparalleled restraint in the face of extreme provocation from the Minister of the FCT and his mob.
It is common knowledge that President Tinubu’s Minister of the FCT makes frequent appearances on national television and speaks on podiums to disparage the governor, incite ethnic hate and fuel political crisis in Rivers State.
It is in the public domain that President Tinubu’s Minister of the FCT threatens to deal ruthlessly with political opponents, including “putting fire” in states of the federation that support Governor Fubara.
It is general knowledge that ex-lawmakers and ex-chairmen of Local Government Councils loyal to the Minister of FCT have consistently hindered smooth governance in Rivers State and openly disrespected the governor.
It is an open secret that factions of the APC and PDP in Rivers State are openly loyal to the Minister of the FCT. He controls factions of both parties that constantly heat the polity.
It is, therefore, the Minister of the FCT that should be called out loud by the president “to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law”. It is Nyesom Wike who should be called upon to “de-escalate the situation and discourage (his) supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions”.
There is no gainsaying that the presidency gets security reports and intelligence about the Rivers State crisis and cannot, therefore, feign ignorance of the correct situation of things.
Why, then, was it difficult for Bayo Onanuga to mention Nyesom Wike in the press release? Why is it difficult for President Tinubu to call his belligerent Minister to order?
The inability of the presidency to call out Nyesom Wike in the protracted political crisis in Rivers State only points to President Tinubu’s willingness to protect and shield his own even at the risk of national security and cohesion.
Sotonye Ijuye-Dagogo
08/10/24
