Wike has exposed all the signatories to the failed Tinubu-Brokered Peace Deal in Rivers political crisis.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed the key national figures who witnessed and endorsed the peace agreement between him and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
Wike said the agreement was signed in the presence of top government officials, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili, among others.
He made the disclosure while addressing supporters during a political engagement in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he spoke extensively on the protracted political crisis in the state.
According to the former Rivers governor, all parties reached a consensus during a meeting convened by President Tinubu, but the agreement later collapsed after Governor Fubara allegedly received conflicting advice upon returning to the state.
“There was a time we met with Mr President and everyone signed the agreement. Even the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, signed. Peter Odili also signed,” Wike said.
“But after they returned home, some people began to mislead the young man, telling him it was political and that he should not follow through. That was how the crisis dragged on and eventually ended up in court, where we won clearly.”
Despite the court outcome, Wike said President Tinubu intervened again in the interest of peace, prompting a fresh round of negotiations.
He disclosed that several governors, ministers, and senior legal practitioners appealed to him to accept another peace deal, noting that he was initially reluctant due to previous breaches of agreement.
“I told them I was dealing with people who do not keep to agreements. But they assured me it would be different this time,” Wike said.
He added that after multiple meetings with Governor Fubara, a new agreement was reached and once again presented before President Tinubu, with all parties committing to its full implementation.
Wike also criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party’s long-standing dominance in Rivers State ended after the 2023 general elections.
He claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) gained significant ground in the state for the first time after he and his political allies supported President Tinubu, insisting that the PDP failed to secure up to 10 per cent of the votes cast in Rivers State during the election.