Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed the high-profile individuals who endorsed the peace agreement he and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, signed under the mediation of President Bola Tinubu, as efforts to resolve the state’s political crisis continue to generate controversy.
Wike said the agreement was witnessed and signed by key national figures, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili.
He made the revelation while addressing supporters during a political engagement in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he spoke extensively on the lingering political turmoil in the state.
According to the former Rivers governor, all parties reached a consensus during a meeting convened by President Tinubu, but the agreement later collapsed after Governor Fubara allegedly received contrary advice upon returning to the state.
“There was a time we met with Mr President and everyone signed the agreement. Even the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, signed. Peter Odili also signed,” Wike said.
“But after they returned home, some people began to mislead the young man, telling him it was political and that he should not follow through. That was how the crisis dragged on and ended up in court, where we won clearly.”
Wike noted that despite the court outcome, President Tinubu intervened again in the interest of peace, prompting another round of negotiations between the parties.
He said several governors, ministers and legal practitioners appealed to him to accept a fresh agreement, admitting that he was initially reluctant to engage with parties he believed had failed to honour previous commitments.
“They assured me it would be different this time. After several meetings with Governor Fubara, we reached a new agreement and presented it again before Mr President. Everyone committed to implementing it,” he stated.
Wike also criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party had dominated Rivers State for years until the 2023 general elections.
He claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) made significant inroads into the state for the first time after he and his allies supported President Tinubu, insisting that the PDP failed to secure up to 10 per cent of the votes in Rivers State during the election.
Comments