A former presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, has called on the federal government and political elites in Rivers State to resolve the crisis between Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike
Recall that Wike and his successor, Fubara, have been in a political struggle over the control of the state for some months now, which has created tension in the state and polarised the state assembly.
The crisis recently escalated in the wake of the conduct of the October 5 council elections, the outcome of which led to the violent destruction of some council secretariats by political thugs.
In an interview with journalists on Sunday, Okupe said the political crisis bedevilling Rivers State has got to a point where it could seriously harm the nation’s democracy if not quickly resolved.
Okupe linked the rift between Fubara and Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to that of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the then Premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Akintola
According to the ex-presidential spokesman, it is clear that only a political solution can effectively resolve all issues and all sides of the crisis.
Okupe said, “Going down memory lane, one is sad to note that the feud between Wike and Fubara is comparable to that between late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the then Premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Akintola.
“As remote and limited this crisis was then, it was one of the precursors of the collapse of that republic.
“It will be wise for the Federal Government and men of goodwill in Rivers and the entire nation to move in on this matter before it goes completely and uncontrollably out of hands.”
