Rivers Crisis: Wike Should Save Us This Embarrassment, Absurdity – Akande

Former presidential aide and political analyst, Laolu Akande, has criticised the unfolding political crisis in Rivers State, describing it as confusing, embarrassing, and an outright absurdity that reflects the deep contradictions in Nigeria’s party politics. Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Thursday, Akande faulted the role of the Minister of the Federal Capital […]

Former presidential aide and political analyst, Laolu Akande, has criticised the unfolding political crisis in Rivers State, describing it as confusing, embarrassing, and an outright absurdity that reflects the deep contradictions in Nigeria’s party politics.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Thursday, Akande faulted the role of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing him of blurring party lines and fuelling instability in the state.

According to Akande, the situation in Rivers has become so muddled that Nigerians can no longer clearly distinguish between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

“We don’t even know anymore how party politics is meant to be played. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike tells us that in Rivers state, there is no PDP, there is no APC, there is only Renewed Hope agenda. A lot of confusion,” he said.

Akande pointed out that the confusion deepened when Governor Siminalayi Fubara was widely perceived to have moved closer to the APC, alongside a majority of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, only for the same lawmakers to later initiate impeachment moves against the governor.

“The Governor moves to APC, majority of the members of the House of Assembly moved to APC. And then, the same majority is now trying to impeach the Governor. Rivers state politics is causing us a lot of confusion – even mental, conceptual challenges. What is really going on?” Akande queried.

He noted that conflicting signals from the APC leadership at the national level and statements attributed to Wike have further worsened the crisis, leaving citizens and observers struggling to understand the real political alignment in the oil-rich state.

“Is it PDP? Is it APC? APC National is saying something, Wike is saying another thing,” he added.

Akande argued that the Rivers crisis exemplifies what he described as the “absurdity” of Wike’s current position in Nigerian politics, insisting that the former Rivers governor should end the ambiguity by formally aligning with the party he appears to support.

“It goes back to my point that what is happening to Mr Wike in Nigeria’s politics is an absurdity,” he said.

He advised the FCT minister to make his political stance clear, both for his own credibility and for the stability of Rivers State.

“Mr Wike, make things very simple on yourself: join APC. It’s very clear. That’s where your treasure seems to be now. And save all of us this embarrassment and save your state this absurdity of you are here, you are there. It’s a lot of confusion,” Akande concluded.

The Rivers political crisis has continued to generate national attention amid fears that prolonged instability could undermine governance and democratic norms in the state.