The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticized a group of women loyal to suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for staging a walkout on First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu during an empowerment event in Port Harcourt.
Wike condemned the act, calling it a “show of shame” and a disgrace to the people of Rivers State.
According to earlier reports, the walkout was led by dismissed local government vice-chairmen aligned with Governor Fubara, who allegedly left the venue after being excluded from the event and replaced by supporters of Wike.
The empowerment programme, hosted at the EUI Centre in GRA, Port Harcourt, was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative and aimed to support 500 women across the state.
Currently on an official visit to China, Wike addressed the matter in a statement released Saturday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
He described the walkout as a blatant affront to the offices of the President and First Lady and extended a formal apology to President Bola Tinubu and his wife on behalf of the people of Rivers State.
“As for me and those who subscribe to my leadership, we condemn in totality yesterday’s show of shame, and we apologise to our First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not represent the character and ideals of the people of Rivers State,” the statement partly read.
The former Rivers State Governor also alleged that the walkout was sponsored by his successor, Governor Fubara, adding that his “shenanigans” — referring to the incident — would not bring peace to the state.
He urged Fubara to “demonstrate honesty by being bold enough to tell President Tinubu what exactly he wants,” stating that the governor’s actions contradicted his peace appeals.
“It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace; those who genuinely want peace must work and act for it. These are the same people pleading for peace, yet doing things contrary to their words.
“How can you claim to want peace and at the same time sponsor people to insult everyone, including the President and his wife? All these shenanigans will not bring peace, and I am sure they know that — because they are not sincere in their back-and-forth calls for peace,” he added.
