The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has condemned the actions of a group of women loyal to suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who staged a walkout during an empowerment event attended by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Port Harcourt.
Wike described the incident as a "show of shame" and a disgrace to the people of Rivers State.
Dip Connects Online News earlier reported that the women, allegedly led by some sacked local government vice-chairmen loyal to Governor Fubara, exited the venue after claiming they were sidelined and replaced on the programme list by loyalists of Wike.
The event, which held at the EUI Centre in GRA, Port Harcourt, was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative and was designed to empower 500 women across Rivers State.
Wike, currently on official duty in China, issued a statement on Saturday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
In the statement, he extended an unreserved apology to President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady on behalf of the Rivers people, calling the walkout a direct insult to the presidency.
“As for me and those who subscribe to my leadership, we condemn in totality yesterday’s show of shame, and we apologise to our First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not represent the character and ideals of the people of Rivers State,” Wike stated.
The former Rivers governor also accused his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, of sponsoring the protest. He asserted that such actions would not bring about peace in the state.
Wike called on Fubara to be forthright with President Tinubu about his true intentions, stating that the governor’s public calls for peace are contradicted by his actions.
“It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace; those who genuinely want peace must work and act for it. These are the same people pleading for peace, yet doing things contrary to their words,” Wike said.
He continued, “How can you claim to want peace and at the same time sponsor people to insult everyone, including the President and his wife? All these shenanigans will not bring peace, and I am sure they know that — because they are not sincere in their back-and-forth calls for peace.”
ADEOLA KUNLE
