A former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene decisively in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State by urging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara to govern in peace.
Akande made this appeal during the My Take segment of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television on Sunday.
He emphasized that while Wike has demonstrated effectiveness in delivering physical infrastructure projects, his political approach in Rivers State has been divisive and self-destructive. According to Akande, President Tinubu should step in and counsel Wike on how to play the role of a seasoned political leader without causing instability in the state.
“From all we have been watching and seeing, Mr. Wike has shown that he may not be as temperate enough to rally the political actors in Rivers together. Therefore, Mr. President should please rise up to the occasion and take the lead,” Akande stated.
While acknowledging Wike’s strengths in governance, Akande noted that the FCT Minister needs to learn from Tinubu on how to be an astute political leader. “The way Wike knows to do things is effective in getting physical infrastructure going on, whether as a Governor or a Minister. But Wike needs to learn from the President how to conduct himself as an astute political godfather even now. His public exertions are becoming self-destructive,” he said.
Akande also highlighted that Governor Fubara, despite his missteps, has shown a willingness to adjust following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter. “On the other hand, while Gov. Fubara too needs serious counseling, he has at least mellowed a bit now that the Supreme Court justices, in their wisdom, have put him in a tight corner!”
He urged Tinubu to broker peace between the two political figures, stating that their differences should not jeopardize the stability of Rivers State.
“This is what we propose to Mr. PRESIDENT: that both the FCT Minister Wike and Gov. Fubara should give each other a second chance. Nothing is unforgivable in this world. After all said and done, we all have expiration dates on the face of the earth!”
Drawing from Tinubu’s past political experience, Akande referenced how the President managed political tensions between himself and former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola during his first term (2007–2011). Despite political disagreements, Tinubu allowed Fashola to govern without public confrontations.
“There were political differences that emerged which seriously irked the then former Lagos State Governor, so much so that there was speculation that Asiwaju may withdraw support for Fashola for a second term. But I don’t remember that we had this kind of public drama such as what is going on in Rivers State,” Akande recalled.
According to him, Tinubu showed political sagacity by allowing Fashola to lead, ultimately influencing the emergence of his successors, Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu. “This is the kind of counsel Asiwaju ought to give Wike in the interest of Rivers State and Nigeria,” he added.
Akande warned that allowing the Rivers crisis to escalate could have severe consequences for Nigeria’s stability, particularly given the state’s economic significance. He advised the President to apply the same strategy he used in resolving the political crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA).
“Last week, the President called the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to the Villa and reportedly resolved the misunderstanding that rocked that institution for over a month. We don’t have the details, but we saw everyone happy and giggling in a group photo at the Aso Villa, suggestive of some rapprochement!
“From all indications, presumably, the President’s influence and counsel prevailed. Now, it is important for Mr. President to understand that he needs to intervene for the people of Rivers, like he has done for the people of Lagos.”
He stressed that while the crises in Lagos and Rivers may differ, the potential loss to the people of Rivers is just as significant as the averted political instability in Lagos. “We don’t need an all-out political imbroglio. Enough time and resources of the people of Rivers State have been wasted already,” he said.
Akande strongly opposed any move to suspend federal allocations to Rivers State, warning that such an action could trigger serious national consequences.
“Suspending the allocations of any State in Nigeria is bad enough and can ignite a real national disaster—not to talk of a state that is an oil-producing state with all the history, hurts, and perceptions of their marginalization and exploitation,” he cautioned.
With the Supreme Court ruling in place and Fubara showing signs of cooperation, Akande insisted that Wike should step back and allow governance to proceed smoothly. “The FCT Minister has done enough tongue-lashing of Fubara already—even in public! Time for real peace and a chance for progress in that critical state is now!”
Akande called on Tinubu to take a balanced approach in resolving the crisis, noting that both Wike and Fubara share responsibility for the prolonged conflict. “Now, for the peace of Rivers people, Mr. President should call both sides together one more time. And in doing that, we respectfully ask Mr. President to be even-handed.
“Both Wike and Fubara have fairly equal responsibilities in the showdown the people of Rivers have suffered in almost two years, so the President should not just be calling out Fubara alone. We strongly believe that both Wike and Fubara would listen to the President.”
Akande urged Tinubu to act swiftly in resolving the political turmoil in Rivers State, just as he did in Lagos.
“Once again, just like the President has rallied his own Lagos people after the crisis in the LSHA, he should do the same for the people of Rivers. There is wisdom in such a move, even for the entire country, Mr. President.”
He also advised the President to keep an eye on developments in the Senate, where political tensions could slow down governance. “We see that things appear to be moving toward a fair resolution, but let the pace be quickened so that the Senate can go back in full swing to serving the Nigerian people—not the personal peccadilloes of a few Senators, both male and female.”
