Presidential media chat: Tinubu should’ve cautioned Wike over Rivers crisis – Idam

Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam on Thursday berated President Bola Tinubu for commending the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during his presidential media chat.

Idam said Tinubu should have cautioned Wike over his utterances, which have inflamed the political crisis in Rivers State and included threats against some state governors.

Recall that Wike and Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State have been embroiled in a crisis over the political control of the state.

Amid the crisis, governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have thrown their support behind Fubara.

Displeased with the interference, Wike had threatened to “set fire” in the state of any governor who intervenes in the crisis in Rivers State.

However, during the presidential media chat, Tinubu described Wike as a “goldmine” and a “performing Minister,” adding that he “doffed his hat” to him.

Reacting to the president’s remark, Idam expressed concern over the implications of endorsing Wike.

In a statement he signed, Idam said:
“I watched President Tinubu’s media chat with a team of journalists on the 23rd of December 2024. From his posture and responses to questions during the interview, I am constrained to conclude that his refusal or failure to engage in media debates during his campaign was certainly not due to a lack of competence but rather a willful disregard for election guidelines or perhaps sheer arrogance borne out of an impression that he (President Tinubu) did not need to prove anything to Nigerians in order to emerge as president.

“Asked during the interview by Mr. Reuben Abati whether he is not worried that Mr. Wike could turn out to be a political liability considering the allegations of land grabbing leveled against him by several Nigerians, the President replied that he (Nyesom Wike) is a ‘goldmine’ and a ‘performing Minister.’ He even proceeded to state that he (President Tinubu) ‘doffs his hat’ to Mr. Nyesom Wike, adding that Nigerians are not comfortable with compliance.

“I am not worried that Mr. Wike just secured recognition for his public service; I am concerned that President Tinubu is neither bothered about Wike’s role in the crisis affecting the Rivers people nor concerned about his threats of being capable of ‘setting fire’ in the states of governors who oppose him. Perhaps the President should have seized the opportunity to caution Wike against his warlike utterances, even while commending him on the other hand.

“I am worried about the consequential effect of such an endorsement on a perceived despotic public officer like Mr. Wike. I am concerned that it could be interpreted as an invitation to anarchy or political brigandage.

“A blanket endorsement of Minister Wike’s actions, without providing detailed specifics, is, in my view, an encouragement of rascality in public service.

“President Tinubu needs a second chance at the interview to clarify which of Minister Wike’s attributes he was referring to as a ‘goldmine.’ Otherwise, several public officers may mistake rascality as a recipe for good performance under his cabinet.”