Frontline journalist and public affairs analyst, Olawale Olaleye has expressed concern over the latest developments in Rivers State where the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara was denied access to the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters.
Fubara who had earlier pledged to implement last week’s Supreme Court judgment, which includes the formal presentation of the 2024 budget had gone to the Assembly quarters on Wednesday morning to re-present the state 2025 budget but was met with a locked gate, preventing his entry.
In a post titled ‘Tinubu Rivers Update: Who’ll Tell the President?’, Olaleye, a Deputy Editor at THISDAY newspaper said recent developments in Lagos, Osun and Rivers whereby some political actors who enjoy federal might are ridiculing state governors is disturbing.
He wrote “The President won’t see or hear about this. That’s without a doubt. But, again, that’s what you get from an elder who has taken a side in a fight between two younger folks”.
“From day one, the president has left no one in doubt about where he stood in the Rivers State crisis. Although he’s tried to pretend, the truth in him has refused to cooperate”.
“Yesterday, he insisted that the only solution to the peace in Rivers is for the governor to adhere strictly to what the court and the law say. That seems convenient”.
“Unfortunately, whenever he spoke, he was always directing his speeches to one side as if that’s the only camp to blame. He was specific yesterday when he told the Rivers Elders and Leaders to go and talk to the governor to embrace peace and do that, which is right”.
“The Governor, in obedience to the law and the president, wanted to go and re-present the budget to the assembly, but he had been locked out. Obviously, acting on the instructions from their paymaster, it will be nice to hear what their excuses would be”.
“Perhaps they were not expecting the governor or that he did not notify them he was coming. They could even say they were yet to formally invite him. Sad and shameful”.
“From Lagos to Rivers and Osun, the attempt to demystify and ridicule the office of the governor, using federal might, is disturbing. Whatever is fuelling this gut is what any keen observer should be interested in. Fingers crossed”.
