The political camps of Minister Nyesom Wike and suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara have disagreed over ongoing peace efforts in the state.
Dr. Chidi Lloyd, a former Emuoha Local Government chairman and ally of Wike, accused Fubara of not being sincere about the peace process. Speaking in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Lloyd said the governor had failed to meet key conditions needed for true reconciliation.
Lloyd said, “Fubara must publicly apologise to elder statesman Sergeant Awuse, members of the State Assembly, former local government chairmen, and others. Peace without justice is not peace. Many people, including former council chairmen and campaign coordinators for Fubara, are still hurting.”
Lloyd also criticised Fubara for allegedly ignoring an eight-point peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu. “If Governor Fubara can renege on agreements made before the President, how can peace be trusted?” he asked.
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In response, Fubara’s Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, dismissed Lloyd’s comments. He described Lloyd as a “busybody” who is disrupting peace talks.
“Dr. Lloyd should support the efforts of the FCT Minister instead of repeating demands that delay progress. If Fubara must apologise to every person, it would take weeks. That’s not realistic. We should focus on achieving peace for development,” Omatsogunwa said.
He added, “Fubara has a leader speaking for him. Everyone should respect the agreements already made and support peace in Rivers State.”
Also speaking, Chizi Enyi, Chief of Staff to the reinstated Rivers APC Chairman, Emeka Beke, defended Fubara’s position. He said the demand for public apologies from a sitting governor was unreasonable.
“Fubara has already asked his supporters to stop online abuse, and they listened. Yet Lloyd continues to stir trouble instead of supporting the peace process,” Enyi said.