Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has asserted that President Bola Tinubu did not mediate peace in Rivers State but rather utilized the opportunity to bolster the fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released on Wednesday, Lamido criticized the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of being inactive. He expressed bewilderment at the party allowing Tinubu, a rival from the APC, to intervene in the dispute between Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Lamido questioned the absence of the PDP’s National Working Committee in the Rivers State saga, pondering whether the party still had a functional leadership. He stated, “Pray, do we still have the National Working Committee of the PDP? Or better still, do we have a party called PDP?
“If we have one of the two, how come their total absence in the saga playing out in the PDP family in Rivers? Is the docility of the leadership of the PDP so comatose to the extent that President Tinubu of APC, our sworn rival and opponent, is now the grand patriarch of PDP?”
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs added, “It is inconceivable that a political party will simply sit back and allow its fortunes to be taken over by a rapacious scavenger, the APC.
“What President Tinubu did in the so-called peace meeting is not brokering peace in Rivers State, but using his office to enhance the fortunes of his political party.
“There are many areas yearning for peace in the country, where President Tinubu’s political expertise, sagacity and wisdom is needed. What skills has he applied to stop the killings of citizens in Nigeria, which is his primary responsibility, which he has conveniently looked away?
“Unwittingly, the so-called peace accord in Rivers only planted the mines, which will definitely explode in the not-too-distant future, with collateral consequences on the entire country. Asari Mujaheed Tokubo and Chief Edwin Clark have alluded to this last week.”
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs argued that the PDP had displayed irresponsibility by allowing its political adversary to settle internal disputes among party members. He emphasized, “What President Tinubu did in the so-called peace meeting is not brokering peace in Rivers State, but using his office to enhance the fortunes of his political party.”
Lamido criticized the PDP’s lack of action in areas of the country where Tinubu’s political expertise could have been beneficial, citing the ongoing security challenges. He warned that the peace accord in Rivers State, as orchestrated by Tinubu, might have negative consequences in the future, echoing concerns raised by figures such as Asari Mujaheed Tokubo and Chief Edwin Clark.
Addressing the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC), Lamido expressed disappointment, stating, “The PDP must take off from where Chief Clark started to fight this illegality through our justice system and all other legal means possible!”
Lamido also directed a message to Governor Fubara of Rivers State, advising him to disregard the signed document from the peace meeting. Lamido alleged that the meeting, chaired by Tinubu, was conducted under an environment not conducive to genuine conflict resolution and accused Tinubu of conflicting interests.
As the controversy continues, Lamido urged the PDP to take a decisive stance to protect its interests, suggesting that the national executive committee should step down if it lacks the courage to stand up for the party.