Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has urged Afenifere chieftain Femi Okurounmu to avoid damaging her reputation as an elder statesman.
Olayinka’s comments come in response to Okurounmu’s recent remarks accusing President Bola Tinubu of being passive in addressing the ongoing crisis in Rivers State.
Okurounmu had also blamed Governor Nyesom Wike for allegedly masterminding the crisis, stating that despite Governor Sim Fubara being Wike’s godson, he should not allow himself to act as a surrogate to Wike as the sitting governor.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Olayinka expressed surprise that Okurounmu, a former senator, was ignoring the serious issue of Governor Fubara’s repeated disobedience to court rulings, which he described as a dangerous threat to the country’s democracy and judicial integrity.
“It is strange that Okurounmu would ignore the avalanche of court judgments being disregarded by Governor Fubara,” Olayinka said, adding, “I’m not surprised, though, as he holds the record for being the first senator to be suspended by his colleagues—out of the seven senators who have been suspended since 1999.”
Olayinka questioned when Wike allegedly told Okurounmu that he wanted Fubara to act as his “surrogate,” stressing that Okurounmu, as an elder statesman, should reflect on the role he played in Fubara’s rise to power.
He continued, “In Yorubaland, when two children are fighting, elders sit them down to listen to both sides. They don’t just sit in their rooms and apportion blame, as Baba Femi Okurounmu seems to be doing.”
Olayinka went on to challenge Okurounmu’s narrative, pointing out that it was not Wike who had set fire to the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, preventing lawmakers from carrying out their duties.
He also questioned whether Okurounmu was aware that Fubara had been illegally using only three out of the 32 members of the state assembly to conduct legislative business, including passing the state budget, in violation of constitutional requirements.
Further, Olayinka highlighted Fubara’s disregard for judicial rulings, citing a recent Court of Appeal decision in Abuja on October 10, 2024, which nullified the Rivers State 2024 budget.
He pointed out that the governor had failed to comply with the ruling, a clear indication of the lawlessness that Okurounmu seemed to be overlooking.
Addressing Okurounmu’s criticism of President Tinubu for being “laid-back” on the Rivers crisis, Olayinka asked, “What exactly does Baba Femi Okurounmu expect the president to do? Overrule judicial decisions and join Governor Fubara in his disregard for the rule of law?”
Olayinka urged Okurounmu to address the bigger issue of the erosion of the rule of law in Rivers State and refrain from making unfounded statements that could tarnish his reputation as a respected elder statesman.