By Ken Afor
Chief Martin Onovo, a prominent political figure and the presidential candidate of the now-defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in 2015, has expressed his belief that President Bola Tinubu could play a pivotal role in resolving the protracted political crisis in Rivers State.
Onovo, an activist and the Head of Policy Positions at the Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), shared this perspective during a recent interview with journalists in Lagos.
According to Onovo, the prolonged political turmoil in the oil-rich state demands urgent intervention, and he believes that the president’s involvement is essential to achieving a resolution.
He stressed the necessity of decisive action from the highest office in the country to tackle the complex situation in Rivers State.
Onovo proposed that the key to resolving the crisis lies in President Tinubu directly engaging in dialogue with Nyesom Wike, the former governor of the state and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to urge him to reconcile with the current governor, Fubara.
He believes that such intervention could effectively bring an end to the crisis.
“Only Tinubu can stop the political crisis in Rivers. The President just need to call Nyesom Wike and talk to him.The crisis will stop if Tinubu tells Wike to sheathe his sword.
“Wike is working with the President as minister. I think the President can talk to him and his loyalists in River to maintain peace.
“All the President just needs is to tell the former governor of the state to concentrate on his work in Abuja and leave the affairs of Rivers to those running the state right now.
“That is all ,and Wike will listen. The minister knows what it means not to listen to the President. So, Tinubu can intervene in this matter” he said.
Onovo also addressed the issue of godfatherism, describing it as a pervasive problem in Nigerian politics that obstructs the delivery of good governance and democratic dividends to the people.
According to the former chieftain of the NCP, the practice of godfatherism is a significant source of instability within the political landscape.
The New Diplomat reported that the political crisis in Rivers State began in 2023 due to the feud between Wike and the current governor, Fubara. This conflict has divided the State House of Assembly, with lawmakers aligned with each of them electing different Speakers.
The fallout from this rift has been extensive, with legislators loyal to Wike defecting from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to join the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
Additionally, several commissioners in the state who support the minister have resigned from Fubara’s cabinet, intensifying the political polarization.
