The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, has dismissed Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s security concerns over a planned political rally as baseless and misleading.
Governor Diri had raised an alarm over an alleged mega rally and the inauguration of a group loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in Bayelsa.
However, Olayinka described the governor’s claims as unfounded, stating that Wike would personally inform security agencies if he intended to attend any such event.
“It is unfortunate that a governor with access to security intelligence would go on national television to raise an alarm over a mere rally, which is the constitutional right of the people,” Olayinka said. “Is this how afraid he is of Wike? Can he stop people from holding rallies in the state if they choose to?”
He argued that Governor Diri was using Wike as a distraction from his own failures in governance. According to Olayinka, it was laughable that the Bayelsa State government convened a Security Council meeting over a suspicion of a rally.
“Is this how governance has become so trivial in Bayelsa? Must Wike always be used as a cover-up for political and administrative shortcomings?” he asked.
Olayinka also recalled that Governor Diri had once sought Wike’s support during his re-election campaign, suggesting that the governor’s current stance was hypocritical.
“When he needed re-election, he was brought to Wike in the middle of the night by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Lokpobiri, and David Lyon. He even knelt to beg for support,” Olayinka alleged.
“Now, he turns around to attack Wike just to hide his own failures. It’s unfortunate how some people lack conscience.”
The controversy comes amid rising political tensions, with both camps exchanging accusations over influence and governance in Bayelsa State.
