The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed calls for reconciliation from former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, stating that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has not made any move to seek forgiveness.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike said reconciliation is only possible when there is an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a request for pardon, which Fubara has yet to make.
Tompolo had earlier appealed to Wike to calm down and reconcile with Fubara for the sake of peace in Rivers State. He emphasised the need for dialogue to resolve the crisis, saying Fubara would return to his seat after issues are settled.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed calls for reconciliation from former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, stating that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has not made any move to seek forgiveness.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike said reconciliation is only possible when there is an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a request for pardon, which Fubara has yet to make.
Tompolo had earlier appealed to Wike to calm down and reconcile with Fubara for the sake of peace in Rivers State. He emphasised the need for dialogue to resolve the crisis, saying Fubara would return to his seat after issues are settled.
The Niger Delta leader said, “And just like I will not accept rebellion from my son, I will also not cause more problems. Wike is angry, but he has to bring his temper down for the good of all. We will have a dialogue and resolve all lingering issues, and again Fubara will return to his seat.”
Reacting to Tompolo’s plea, Wike’s camp maintained that there is no basis for forgiveness without a request.
The statement read, “There is no offence. It is when somebody has offended you personally that you are talking about the person seeking forgiveness or whatever. As Christians, let’s now assume that Fubara has offended the minister, do you forgive someone who has not come to you to seek forgiveness?
“The person who has wronged you must first agree that in his mind he has wronged you. Let’s assume that Fubara has offended the minister, has he come to seek forgiveness? I’m not saying there is an offence and there should be forgiveness, but he has not even come for forgiveness.
“The minister has never said that Fubara offended him personally. He only said that Fubara should govern in accordance with the rule of law and that Fubara should not throw away those who risked their lives and resources—and that is not too much to ask. He said, ‘Those who worked to make you governor, don’t throw them away like that’. So, that is not about forgiveness. If there is one person Fubara would say he has offended, it should be the president.
“He is the one to go for soul-searching because throughout the time he was working with this same Wike, throughout the time Wike was facing the bullet for him, Wike was not a bad person then. So, at what point did Wike become a bad person to him? He should ask himself. When did Wike become somebody that Fubara would be so bold as to tell him that he would deal with him? At what point?”
Concluding with a proverb, Olayinka added, “It’s like asking a doctor to prescribe medicine for a sick person, but not convincing the sick person to take it. What’s the result?”
