Speaking at the New Central TV Town Hall in Rivers State, Igo Aguma, former Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, delivered a pointed critique of the ongoing political crisis, accusing certain individuals of perpetuating the conflict while simultaneously presenting themselves as peacemakers.
Aguma asserted that those who are “the biggest beneficiaries of this, who are perpetrating it,” are the very ones obstructing genuine resolution.
He argued that the various parties involved have already expressed their stances and that progress can only be achieved through direct interaction between the “suspended governor and the suspended Assembly.”
He commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his recent statement, deeming it “a statement that could lead to peace.”
Aguma then addressed the political dynamics at play, stating, “Politics is an economic game; it is not a social club, and they all know it.” He likened the situation to corporate succession, noting that it is common for leaders to groom successors who will continue their vision.
He emphasised the APC’s role in bringing Governor Fubara to power, stating, “We brought Fubara forward; we defeated you people well. So, today you cannot love him more than we do. We love him, we brought him, we saw the qualities in him, and we believe that without distractions, those qualities will deliver dividends of democracy to Rivers State.”
Aguma advised the governor to engage directly with his Assembly members and party leaders, acknowledging Nyesom Wike’s continued influence. “I will tell him Wike is our leader; he brought all of us together and said, ‘This is the person I want to succeed me. Support me.’ Wike was in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area on the day of the election; I was there. His vote and mine brought about the victory of Fubara, and you people opposed us.”
He defended the practice of political mobilisation, drawing parallels to American political campaigns.
Aguma concluded by emphasing the urgency of moving forward, stating, “I want to say this clearly: I believe that the time for how water entered melon has passed; we now need Rivers State to move forward, and the first step to moving forward is to let the crisis merchants take a back seat and allow the governor and his Assembly members to sit down and have a rapport among themselves to move this state forward.”