By OBSERVERS TIMES
The ongoing political tensions in Rivers State have escalated as the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has accused suspended governor Siminalayi Fubara of orchestrating a recent walkout by a group of women during an empowerment program hosted by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
In a statement released over the weekend by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister condemned the women’s actions as an embarrassment to the people of Rivers State. Wike expressed his regret on behalf of the state, asserting that disrespect towards the First Lady equates to disrespect towards the presidency itself.
The controversial walkout occurred at the Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment program held at the EUI Event Centre in Port Harcourt, aimed at benefiting 500 women with various empowerment items. The group, reportedly led by dismissed Local Government Vice Chairpersons, left the event in protest.
In a swift rebuttal, Fubara dismissed Wike’s accusations as illogical and politically motivated. Through a statement issued by Mrs. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, the Rivers State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Fubara clarified that he had fully supported the event, even while on vacation, and emphasized his commitment to the program’s goals.
“The insinuation that Governor Fubara would undermine an initiative he actively supported is not only illogical but also fundamentally false,” Briggs-Oniyide stated. She highlighted that the event was proceeding smoothly until a disruption occurred when Mrs. Theresa Ibas, the wife of the Rivers State Administrator, attempted to address the attendees. The women expressed their refusal to recognize her, leading to the walkout.
Fubara’s office condemned Wike’s remarks as a misleading attempt to politicize a non-partisan event, urging the public to see through the political mischief. “Such statements are deeply misleading and appear to be a calculated effort to shift blame,” the statement concluded.
As the political landscape in Rivers State continues to shift, both leaders remain at odds, with the implications of this incident likely to reverberate through their respective political circles.
