Environmental and human rights activist, Ann Kio Briggs, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu over the political situation unfolding in Rivers State, warning that recent developments may not ultimately serve the President’s political interests.
Her remarks followed the announcement by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that he would no longer participate in the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary election in the state.
Fubara disclosed on Wednesday that although stepping down from the contest was a difficult decision, he remained committed to supporting whoever emerges as the APC candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.
Prior to Fubara’s withdrawal, another APC governorship aspirant, Tonye Cole, had also stepped aside from the race.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Briggs accused President Tinubu of allowing the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to wield excessive influence over Rivers State politics.
She said, “Rivers people have decided who they will vote for and whom they have supported. What is going on right now in Rivers State, not only is it not going to be in the best interest of Rivers State, it will at the end of the day not be in the best interest of APC or the president of Nigeria himself.”
Briggs further alleged that the confusion surrounding the political crisis in the state was being fueled by the ruling party and external interference.
“If we seem to be confused, we are not the people setting the confusion. The confusion is being set by the APC. The confusion is being set by the level of interference that the president has allowed to go on in Rivers State,” she added.
