Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as politically weak if he was unable to control the political structures in the state.

Olayinka made the remarks on Channels Television’s ‘Morning Brief’ on Wednesday while reacting to the lingering political crisis in Rivers State and an alleged impeachment plot against the governor.

Speaking during the programme, Olayinka argued that no governor should remain in office while another political actor controls the state’s House of Assembly and other political structures.

“If I am a minister in Abuja and you are a governor, and I am able to control your House of Assembly, then something is wrong with you. It means you are weak,” he said.

He further stated that controlling the majority of lawmakers in the state legislature was a clear indication of political dominance.

“If I am here in Abuja and I’m the one controlling 27 members of your House of Assembly, you only have three. And the three are not even coming to the House again. So that means all the entire members of the House of Assembly are the ones I am controlling, and you are the governor of Rivers State.

“You should agree and admit that you are weak. You should come to me and prostrate and do ‘twale’ for me,” Olayinka added.

Olayinka further questioned Governor Fubara’s authority if he was unable to control political structures within his state.

“If you are a governor and you cannot control any structure in your state, then what kind of governor are you?” he asked. “If another person is controlling your structure, it means that person is stronger than you politically.”

The FCT minister’s aide dismissed claims that Wike was directly orchestrating an impeachment move against the governor, insisting that the Rivers State House of Assembly was acting independently.

“It is the House of Assembly that is behind any impeachment move, if Governor Fubara does not want impeachment, he knows what to do. He knows political navigation,” he said.

Olayinka also reacted to comments by the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Bashiru, who had advised Wike to focus on his ministerial duties or resign if distracted by Rivers State politics.

According to Olayinka, such public statements should not be mistaken for the actual political realities behind the scenes.

“What people say on television is different from what is happening. The governor knows this,” he added.

The political crisis in Rivers State has continued to attract national attention, with tensions persisting between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, over control of the state’s political machinery. (LEADERSHIP)

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