Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu appears to have apparently absolved his appointee, Nyesom Wike of any culpability in the crisis rocking Rivers State as he called on the Police to secure local government secretariats in the State.

A press statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, October 7, 2024 in Abuja said as much.

Despite the fact that supporters of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were allegedly stoking one form of crisis or the other in the State, the President chose instead to caution the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and other political leaders in the State.   

“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.” 

“He urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.” 

It could be observed that though Nyesom Wike has been at the centre of the crisis in the State with various stakeholders calling on the President to rein in his appointee, Tinubu avoided mentioning him in his statement, giving verve to sspeculations that the FCT Minister had the tacit support of the President.  

In another development, the President directed the Police to secure local council secretariats across the State as a wave of violence spread across five LGAs on Monday, October 7, 2024.

“President Tinubu directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately. 

“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.

“President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.”

The President discountenanced any resort to self-help, stressing that such “has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy”. 

“According to President Tinubu, the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.” 

Concerned watchers of the development are wary of the President’s intervention which they describe as a subtle exculpation of Wike from the crisis rocking the State when the reality on ground suggests the opposite.

They advised the President to rise to the occasion and call his man, Wike to order, and direct him to rein in his minions who have exhibited a determination to give life to Wike’s alleged threat to make the State ungovernable for Fubara.