Kinsmen of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike have accused Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara of fostering ethnic discord in the state. Under the aegis of the Apara Committee of Friends (ACF), they claimed that Fubara’s statements and policies are fueling unhealthy rivalries among the populace.
The ACF warned that such actions are "unsafe, detrimental, and injurious to the ethnic harmony" in Rivers State. They urged Governor Fubara, as the state's leader, to mitigate the growing political crisis. The kinsmen also pledged their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and cleared Wike of allegations that he demanded a share of the state’s monthly allocations.
In a statement released after their weekend meeting in Port Harcourt, signed by ACF Acting President Temple Weneka and Chairman Alex Wele, the group described Wike as a team player and staunch supporter of agreements. They attributed the political turmoil in Rivers State to "unguided statements, deliberate blackmail, and mischief," aimed at undermining Wike's integrity.
The ACF argued that the crisis could have been avoided if Governor Fubara had honored the eight-point presidential peace accord signed in Abuja last year and respected the constitutional rights of state House of Assembly members. They criticized the governor for withholding council allocations, which they said hampered statutory duties.
Their statement read: “The puerile confrontation and assault of Governor Sim Fubara on the Rivers State Lawmakers could have been avoided had the Governor respected the constitutional rights of the elected legislators. The Legislature is a separate arm of government, with functions adequately provided for in the 1999 Constitution.
“The demolition of the State House of Assembly’s hallowed chamber and continuous harassment of legislative members and their families is an aberration and unacceptable in a democratic setting. The governor’s dictatorial governance style, including withholding local government allocations and denying employees their wages, is primitive and a setback to our democracy.
“The non-compliance by Governor Fubara with the eight-point Abuja Peace Accord facilitated by Mr. President to ensure a lasting solution to the crisis in Rivers State, which the governor later abandoned.”
The group stated they had "maintained a studied silence since the inception of the political impasse between our son and brother, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and Governor Fubara, hoping for an amicable resolution in the interest of Rivers State’s development and smooth governance. Unfortunately, instead of resolution, we see a worsening political climate fueled by unguided statements, deliberate blackmail, and policy decisions undermining the FCT minister's integrity.
“Against this backdrop, we, the Apara Committee of Friends, a socio-political pressure group from Apara Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, find it necessary to highlight issues arising from the crisis, to provide necessary clarifications.”
