National
FG Clears Wike Of Blame In Rivers Crisis
By Gideon Ayeni
The Federal Government has cleared Nyesom Wike of culpability in the crisis in Rivers State even as it Wednesday confirmed that the state’s monthly allocation will be released to the state’s sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.)
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, made these known while addressing journalists on the Rivers State crisis at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
Fagbemi justified Tinubu’s decision, stating that the intervention was necessary to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in Rivers State. He also dismissed claims that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, played a role in the political turmoil that led to the emergency declaration.
While responding to concerns about whether the state’s federal allocation would be withheld, Fagbemi affirmed that the funds would be available to the administrator.
“If the administrator requests it, the funds will be released to him. Given the extraordinary situation, this is the logical course of action,” he stated.
Defending Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Fagbemi insisted that the President acted at the right time.
“We are about two years into the administration in the state. When should the President have intervened—after everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so. The President acted timeously. He gave all parties an opportunity to make amends and even attempted mediation,” he said.
On Tuesday, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats. The crisis has been fueled by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as FCT Minister.
As part of the emergency measures, Tinubu appointed Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff who served from 2015 to 2021 under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, to oversee the state’s affairs until stability is restored.
The decision has sparked nationwide debate, with legal experts and opposition leaders questioning its constitutionality and the implications for democratic governance in Nigeria.
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