The Presidency has pronounced that President Bola Tinubu is not going to take sides in the current political crisis that is rocking Rivers State.
Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been at loggerheads.
Even though Wike influenced the emergence of Fubara, the men fell out less than six months after the governor assumed office.
President Tinubu had intervened in the crisis, making both the duo to sign a peace accord. Yet, they returned to combative position after few weeks.
The crisis reached its peak when a Rivers High Court restrained lawmakers that are loyal to Wike from parading themselves as members of the state assembly.
When speaking in an interview on TVC, Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said that anyone with the belief that the President would take their side in the political crisis would eventually be disappointed.
Ngelale further said that Tinubu won’t indulge any attempt to frustrate the Rivers government.
He said: “I believe that anyone who believes that by their actions, whether it’s from the Federal level, State level or the legislative branch in the State or the executive branch in the state;
“…if they are banking on Mr. President to take sides on this matter, they’re mistaking and they’ll be disappointed. Mr. President will not do that. What he will do is to ensure that everybody has what they need in order to work.
“He will also ensure that any attempt to frustrate the operation of the Rivers State Government from conducting its affairs in a way that it would benefit the Rivers people, that’s obviously not going to be allowed by this President or anybody else. So, I think there’s a need for all stakeholders to understand that Mr President won’t take sides.”