We have no hand in Rivers crisis – FG

The Federal government on Wednesday washed its hands off the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, his loyalists and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, saying that the government does not share the former governor’s position.

Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, while fielding questions from State House Journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the presidential villa in Abuja, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, said the federal government has no hand in the Rivers political crises.

The Minister maintained that the federal government has no hands in the crisis, which has seen the FCT minister and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly pitted against Governor Fubara.

Because of the crisis, the lawmakers in the State House of Assembly had announced their defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC), leading to their seats being declared vacant by the Legislature.

Read also Rivers Assembly demolition is ‘rape’ on legislative history – Alabo

“Well, he is a federal cabinet member; he is involved in the situation in the state. That cannot be a federal government position. How can it be the federal government’s position?”

Idris stressed that the federal government is keen to ensure peace and tranquillity in every part of the country, including Rivers, saying: “Well, the federal government is always interested in the well-being of all the states, and in that direction, the federal government will always align with everyone in Nigeria to make sure that there is peace and tranquillity in all parts of this country.

Read also Rivers N800bn budget in limbo as bulldozers demolish assembly building

“But you know that what has happened in Rivers is not a creation of the federal government. It is a political problem that is brewing in the state.

“Of course, the government will ensure peace and stability for all Nigerians, including River State, but you can’t say that this is a creation of the federal government. The federal government never had any hand in creating that problem.”

On the allegation raised by Asari Dokubo, accusing President Bola TInubu of ignoring the festering crisis in Rivers State, the government’s spokesman noted that what the leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force said is only advisory.

Read also Fubara sends birthday wishes to Wike, presents budget to 5 assembly members amid rift

“I saw Asari Dokubo’s message. It was an advisory. He made an advisory. When you make an advisory, you allow time to see whether the person you have given the advice to will look at it again and return it to you. That does not suggest anything. That doesn’t suggest that the federal government created that problem. It was never a creation of the federal government. It is a creation of the political situation in River State.”

This is just as the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, to formally invoke Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and declare the seats of the lawmakers who defected to the All Progressive Congress APC, vacant, following their defection.

This was contained in the Communique issued by the party and made available to BusinessDay in Abuja after the party’s 580th National Working Committee ( NWC) meeting on Wednesday.

The party said it would explore every available legal provision to ensure that INEC complies with the constitutional provision.