Abuja — Political analyst Mahmud Jega has warned that President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the ongoing political crisis between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, may further entrench the conflict rather than resolve it.
Jega made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television, monitored by DAILY POST.
According to him, the President’s alleged position on the Rivers power struggle raises serious constitutional and political concerns.
“As far as I can see, President Tinubu’s intervention will perpetuate the crisis instead of resolving it,” Jega said.
He faulted claims that Wike remains the undisputed political leader of Rivers State, noting that such a stance contradicts the All Progressives Congress (APC) constitution, which recognizes sitting governors as party leaders in their respective states.
“To say that Wike is the political leader of Rivers contradicts the APC’s own position, recently reiterated by the party’s National Secretary and National Chairman, that governors are the leaders of the party in their states,” Jega stated.
Jega further questioned the logic of elevating Wike’s political influence despite his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“You are saying Wike is the leader when he is not even a member of the APC. That alone says a lot,” he added.
The analyst suggested that the President’s stance, if accurately reported, could be interpreted as tacit approval of Wike’s activities within the PDP, allegedly aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The President appears to be saying that Wike remaining in the PDP and destabilizing it has his blessing, essentially in service of the President’s 2027 re-election ambitions,” Jega said.
He concluded that the intervention does not reflect an effort to restore political stability in Rivers State but rather empowers Wike to continue wielding influence across both the APC and PDP.
“This is not an attempt to solve the problem. It is effectively handing over full control to Minister Wike to continue playing the role of political overlord in Rivers State across party lines. This has never happened in Nigeria’s political history,” Jega said.
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