Wike: Crowds Turn Out To Receive Him

● Omoku rolls out the red carpet for Wike; Fubara keeps mum over talks with Tinubu

By Uke N Uke

Despite jabs on social media platforms, suggesting people did not come out to receive the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, in Rivers State, an unprecedented crowd on Saturday indeed welcomed the former governor of Rivers State to Omoku.

Omoku which doubles as the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area hosts a lot of sensitive oil and gas related ventures.

But on Saturday, the Ogba people shutdown the town as Wike’s political structure in that part of the Orashi region moved to receive a governor who had touched their lives through the provision of monumental development projects.

Wike who was in town to visit his old friend and political associate, Bro Felix Obuah, a former State Chairman of the Rivers PDP seized the opportunity to pay homage to the Oba of Ogbaland, His Royal Majesty, Eze Nnam Obi III.

The Minister who was accompanied by the Minister of State (Petroleum), Heineken Lokpobiri, Chief Timipre Sylva, Senator Anyanwu,  Chief Victor Giadom and other important dignitaries told the monarch that he and members of his team have met their own obligations under the accord signed before the President.

“We accepted whatever decision Mr President has taken”, Wike emphasized, “and we have on our part fulfilled every condition given by Mr President because I told you (Oba) I will not let you down.”

“It is just to let you know that your request of making sure there is peace in the State of which you asked Mr President to intervene, we have accepted.

“And I want you to use this opportunity to continue to pray for Mr. President for God to continue to give him wisdom to pilot the affairs of this nation,” the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory remarked.

Recall that all the parties to the Rivers crisis agreed to a truce on Monday, December 18, 2023.

Under the agreement, Wike’s team was expected to withdraw the impeachment threat instituted by the Rivers State House of Assembly. They have complied.

They were expected to withdraw all pending cases in court. They have also complied.

Wike’s visit to the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area  is coming in the wake of a closed door meeting held between President Bola Tinubu and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

So far, there has been no indication of what was discussed by both men, but there are however speculations that they may have looked at the level of compliance achieved under the peace deal.

Fubara who has returned to Port Harcourt has kept sealed lips, saying he is not in any way obligated to speak on the outcome of his conversation with the president.

This would imply that a level of confidentiality surrounding the outcome of the conversation between the President and the Governor at the Villa simply exists.

From the run of events, Fubara has complied substantially with some of the resolutions which were incapsulated in the agreement.

It was agreed that the leadership of the House by Martins Amaewhule should be recognised. Fubara has done so.

Pursuant to the protection of the independence of the legislature, it was agreed the House should be free to sit where it wants. It was also agreed that Fubara should in no way interfere with funds meant for the Assembly.

The Governor’s camp has similarly complied with this aspect of the resolution contained in the truce agreement and gone ahead as well to release monies belonging to the House which were officially held back.

Edison Ehie has given up his ambition to be Speaker as the deal specifies. He has even resigned his membership of parliament.

Two thorny aspects of the peace accord remain unimplemented at this stage.

Fubara is yet to re-present the 2024 budget and resubmit names of commissioners who resigned from his administration.

These two resolutions, Fubara’s supporters insist, he should never implement. They say it will amount to committing political suicide.

Yet, as the Governor has repeatedly noted, no price would be too high to pay to ensure that peace reigns in Rivers State.

Not to go along with the implementation of the remaining clauses may put the peace deal struck by the Presidency at risk, and bring the State which is enjoying a level of stability right back to square one. 

It is possible the Presidency which has become more or less like a guarantor would hope that Fubara would give credence to the peace deal by implementing what is left of the understanding.