Erstwhile Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Yekini Nabena, has urged President Bola Tinubu not to interfere in the political tension between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his estranged godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Nabena, who was Secretary of Bayelsa APC Media and Publicity Committee, further urged the President not to take sides in the political power play going on in Ondo State politics.
The APC chieftain’s warning comes in the wake of Wednesday’s demolition of Rivers State House of Assembly quarters after the defection of 27 of the 32-lawmakers to the APC.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ordered a factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Edison Ehie to preside over the activities of the legislative arm of the state pending the determination of a motion before it.
The court also stopped lawmakers allegedly loyal to Wike from using the assembly premises following the directive of Fubara that the facility was under renovation.
Ailing Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on the other hand has transmitted a letter to the state House of Assembly to notify them that he has handed over power to his deputy, Lucy Aiyedatiwa, as the acting governor.
Akeredolu is due to return to Germany to continue his medical treatment following months of political rancour between his allies and the embattled deputy governor.
Reacting to the development via a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Nabena urged Tinubu and the ruling APC to respect the constitution of Nigeria and allow Ondo and Rivers to sort out their problems.
He said, “President Tinubu who believe in the political or social equality of all people and practice the principle of equality of rights must not play politics with Rivers and Ondo states. The constitution of our nation must be recognised and respected at this time in Rivers and Ondo states.
“The All Progressives Congress should also look into the party constitution carefully, bearing in mind that the National Working Committee of our party does not have powers to dissolve an elected chairman and his executive in Rivers.
“We are democrats and not dictators in APC. So we should be mindful of our actions. The implications of this action in River state might be dangerous for our party in the near future if the right thing is not done quickly now, if not, what happened before in 2019 will happen again with litigations here and there.”
