The ongoing political crisis in Rivers State has taken a new twist as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, has criticized Imo Ugochinyere, a House of Representatives member from Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State.
Olayinka, in a statement issued in Abuja, dismissed Ugochinyere’s comments on the crisis, describing them as mere lamentations of a ‘lost battle.’ He accused the lawmaker of benefiting from an allegedly fraudulent local government structure in Rivers State, orchestrated through the Action Peoples Party (APP).
“As a political opportunist, it is expected that Ugochinyere will cry over the dismantling of an illegal local government structure that he and his party set up in Rivers State. We all know how much was siphoned through these illegal chairmen, but that has now ended,” Olayinka declared.
Responding to Ugochinyere’s remarks during a live television program, Olayinka challenged him to substantiate his claims about a supposed opposition coalition. “He should tell Nigerians which House of Representatives members are part of his so-called Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP),” he said.
Olayinka further mocked Ugochinyere for his past claims that Rivers State Assembly Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, would never gain access to the state budget. “He was so confident, boasting that the Assembly members were done for. But today, reality has set in. Governor Siminalayi Fubara is facing the consequences of Ugochinyere’s misleading politics,” he added.
Addressing the broader Rivers crisis, Olayinka criticized Governor Fubara for allegedly avoiding due process in his dealings with the State Assembly. “Instead of playing to the gallery, the governor should have officially communicated with the Speaker regarding his budget presentation. Carrying the budget to the market square won’t solve the issue,” he remarked.
The war of words between political stakeholders in Rivers State underscores the deep divisions within the state's leadership, raising concerns over governance and stability in the state.
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