Doyin Okupe, a former presidential spokesman, says that the political crisis in Rivers was reminiscent of the Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Akintola feud.
In an interview on Sunday, Mr Okupe said the crisis was also a threat to democracy in Nigeria and could destabilise the country if not quickly resolved.
“Going down memory lane, one is sad to note that the feud between Wike and Fubara is comparable to that between late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the then Premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Akintola.
“As remote and limited this crisis was then, it was one of the precursors of the collapse of that republic,” Mr Okupe said.
He said that “It will be wise for the Federal Government and men of goodwill in Rivers and the entire nation to move in on this matter before it goes completely, and uncontrollably out of hands.”
Describing the feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and the attendant political tension in the state as unfortunate, he said “It is clear that only political solution, no matter how difficult it is to arrive at, can be effective in resolving all issues and all sides in the crisis.”
Mr Wike and his successor, Governor Fubara, are engaged in political struggle over the control of the state, which has created tension within the state and polarised the state assembly.
The crisis worsened following the conduct of local council elections on October 5, the outcome of which led to violent destruction of council secretariats by political thugs.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on Thursday affirmed a lower court’s decision nullifying the state’s 2024 budget signed into law and being operated by Governor Fubara, further creating uncertainty.
The N800 billion budget was passed in December 2023 by a faction of the state’s House of Assembly loyal to the governor and led by Edison Ehie.
(NAN)
