The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that blackmail or public protests will not solve the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving service for the 70th birthday of former federal lawmaker Ken Chikere in Port Harcourt on Friday, Wike stressed that genuine efforts and sincerity from all stakeholders were necessary for peace to return to the state.
He noted that the decision by President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency had helped prevent greater disasters from occurring in Rivers.
Wike, who served as Governor of Rivers State before his current role as FCT Minister, criticized traditional rulers and community leaders for failing to take meaningful steps towards reconciliation.
He said, “One month after Mr President, in his wisdom, declared a state of emergency to save Rivers State from anarchy, I challenge any Rivers so-called elder, even the traditional rulers, to state the attempt they made to bring total peace in the State.”
He noted that mere appearances on television and public statements would not resolve the crisis.
According to him, some individuals benefit from conflict and have no real interest in restoring order because peace would affect their personal gain. “When there is no crisis, there is no food on the table. Those people cannot be real elders,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister also condemned the recent protests by women who demonstrated nude in the streets to call for an end to the emergency rule and the reinstatement of elected officials.
He described such actions as unhelpful and disrespectful, saying, “There is no need to embarrass our women to be naked outside. No amount of such can bring peace, no amount of such blackmail can bring peace.”
Wike stressed that for true peace to be achieved, all political parties, members of the State Assembly, National Assembly representatives, and various community leaders must be fully involved in discussions.
He warned against sidelining any group, insisting that every stakeholder must have a seat at the table to create genuine reconciliation.
“There are critical stakeholders that must be involved in the process of this peacemaking. Nobody will be excluded. If any group is excluded, it means there is no total peace,” he stated.
He further said that while he had welcomed some individuals who approached him privately for dialogue, real peace would only come through open and sincere collaboration involving all major political and traditional figures.
