Wike Calls for Genuine Reconciliation in Rivers State Crisis

Amid ongoing political unrest in Rivers State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that no amount of blackmail, protest, or public outcry will restore calm unless there is a sincere and inclusive effort toward peace.

Speaking on Friday during a thanksgiving service in honour of former federal lawmaker Ken Chikere’s 70th birthday in Port Harcourt, Wike stated that achieving peace in Rivers requires more than just media campaigns or emotional demonstrations. He insisted that peace will only come through the honest participation of all stakeholders, including members of the National and State Assemblies.

Wike, who served as Governor of Rivers State until 2023, blamed the current political chaos on selfish interests and insincerity among the so-called elders and leaders of the state. He also criticised traditional rulers who, he said, have openly taken sides in the conflict instead of working towards peace.

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Peace Will Only Reign Through Inclusive, Sincere Dialogue—Wike

Wike defended the decision by President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, saying the measure averted a full-scale collapse of law and order. “One month after Mr President, in his wisdom, declared a state of emergency to save Rivers State from anarchy, I challenge any Rivers so-called elder, even the traditional rulers, to state the attempt they made to bring total peace in the State,” he said.

He condemned the series of protests, particularly one in which women stripped themselves in public to demand the return of suspended political leaders. “There is no need to embarrass our women to be naked outside. No amount of such can bring peace, no amount of such blackmail can bring peace,” Wike asserted.

The FCT Minister emphasised that for true peace to return to the oil-rich state, all parties—regardless of political affiliation—must come to the table with a sincere intention to reconcile and rebuild. “What can bring peace is for you to humble yourself and say, for the interest of the state, I want everybody to work together,” he said.

He called out individuals who, according to him, benefit from the ongoing conflict. “Those who thrive in crisis are always happy when there is crisis. When there is no crisis, there is no food on the table. Those people cannot be real elders,” Wike warned.

Wike further stressed that simply reaching out to him privately or appearing conciliatory on the surface was not enough. “Seeing me alone does not bring peace. There are critical stakeholders that must be involved in the process of this peacemaking,” he said, adding that any reconciliation effort that excludes key actors is bound to fail.

According to Wike, both political parties in the state—along with lawmakers from the State and National Assemblies, traditional institutions, and other opinion leaders—must be part of any meaningful resolution process.

As Rivers State continues to grapple with its deepening political crisis, Wike’s latest remarks signal a shift from confrontation to negotiation, but with a firm demand for accountability, inclusivity, and sincerity.