The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has strongly condemned a walkout staged by a group of women during an empowerment event hosted by the Office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Port Harcourt.
The incident, which reportedly involved women loyal to suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, was described by Wike as a “show of shame.”
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, Wike extended an unreserved apology to both the First Lady and President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the people of Rivers State, calling the walkout an “embarrassment” to the state.
“Insulting anyone representing the First Lady of Nigeria is a direct insult on the office of the President and Commander-In-Chief,” the statement read.
Wike, currently on official engagements in China, criticized the walkout as politically motivated and aimed at undermining national unity.
The women involved, reportedly led by sacked local government vice chairmen, exited the venue of the “Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment programme, an event meant to benefit 500 women with support items.
Wike accused Fubara’s supporters of hypocrisy, claiming they advocate peace while engaging in disruptive behavior.
Calling for sincerity in the search for political resolution, Wike said, Those who genuinely want peace work and act for it. You cannot be pleading for peace and at the same time sponsor people to insult the president and his wife.
He urged Fubara to be honest about his intentions with the President, warning that political gamesmanship would not lead to reconciliation.
We condemn in totality that yesterday’s show of shame and we apologise to our First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not represent the ideals of Rivers State, Wike concluded.
