In the midst of the political crisis in Rivers State, fingers have pointed at former Governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of influencing the instability. In this exclusive interview, the Publicity Secretary to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, speaks with Dr. Vincent Ajayi of The New Daily Prime to address these accusations and clarify the Minister’s role in recent developments.
Q1: Many believe Wike’s influence in Rivers State is a major factor in the ongoing political crisis. Would you say Wike is guilty as accused, or is Governor Fubara to blame?
Wike is not the Governor of Rivers State. He is not responsible for the issues in the state. Was he the one who demolished the House of Assembly complex? Was he also the one using just three members out of 32 to approve budgets or appoint commissioners?
The constitution says one-third of the entire House of Assembly—not just one-third of those available—shall form a quorum to sit. In a House of 32 members, you need 21 members to form a quorum. Two-thirds must be present to approve a budget .
So, was it the Minister who made those decisions? When a lower court gave judgment recognizing a particular group as the House of Assembly and asked the governor to present his budget to them for approval, was it the Minister who refused to obey?
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The President saw this political danger and called the parties involved to resolve the matter. When the President intervened, all sides—including the governor—signed a resolution document. The National Security Adviser signed on behalf of the President. Both the governor’s camp and the Minister’s camp signed it.
Then the Supreme Court gave a declarative judgment. Was it the Minister who issued the judgment, or was it the governor who failed to obey it? In the United States, when a court gives judgment, it is obeyed and implemented immediately. Do we need someone to interpret it before acting?
Was it Wike who stopped the governor from implementing the Supreme Court judgment? Why didn’t the governor comply with President Tinubu’s intervention?
Q2: Many Nigerians have condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Do you think the appointment of a Sole Administrator was unconstitutional?
I don’t want to question decisions already taken by the President and confirmed by the National Assembly, as prescribed by Nigerian law.
Once the President declares a state of emergency and the National Assembly approves it, the only lawful option for anyone displeased is to go to court and seek a judicial review.
Whatever we say outside the legal process doesn’t really matter. The issue is: an action has been taken. The President mentioned specific reasons. He said the governor demolished the House of Assembly. Why would he do that?
We have three arms of government. The governor heads the executive arm. He has no business interfering with the legislative arm. The governor showed no regard for the legislature.
Instead of writing directly to the House of Assembly to present the budget, he used the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to send a letter. At the national level, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation doesn’t write to the National Assembly—it’s the President who does. Similarly, in a state, the governor writes to the State Assembly, not the SSG.
He withheld salaries and allowances of Assembly members for over a year. He made them and their families suffer. Their case went to the Supreme Court—and he lost.
When you go to war and lose, you lose the right to dictate terms. You can’t sit at the negotiation table unless you’re invited. You do what the victors say—and that’s the governor’s current position. He lost at the Supreme Court. He lost the political battle.
If I were him, I would immediately start reaching out—finding those I could appeal to, persuade, or even beg. That’s what the governor should have done.
Instead, he used the Secretary of State to write to the Assembly Speaker, asking to meet at his house. If you were a House of Assembly member, would you go?
Q3: After the emergency rule, do you think Nyesom Wike will still play an active role in Rivers politics?
Why wouldn’t he? He’s from Rivers State. He has a political family there, and Governor Fubara used to be part of that family.
He cannot abandon them. He must continue to provide leadership. Fubara didn’t become governor on his own strength. He got there because of the support and recommendation of that political family.
As Rivers State remains in the spotlight of national politics, Lere Olayinka maintains that Nyesom Wike’s role has been exaggerated and misinterpreted. He argues that responsibility lies with Governor Fubara and insists that the rule of law, not political speculation, should guide the way forward.
