Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has apologised to President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu after a group of women walked out during an empowerment event in Port Harcourt.
The incident occurred at the EUI Centre in the GRA area of the Rivers State capital during a programme organised under the Renewed Hope Initiative, which aimed to empower 500 women across the state.
The walkout was reportedly led by some sacked local government vice-chairpersons loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement released on Saturday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike condemned the women’s action, calling it a “show of shame” and an embarrassment to the people of Rivers State.
“This is an insult to the offices of the President and the First Lady.
On behalf of the good people of Rivers, I offer a sincere apology to President Tinubu and his wife for the disgraceful conduct of a few individuals who do not reflect our values,” the statement read.
Wike, who is currently on an official visit to China, accused Governor Fubara of orchestrating the protest.
He criticized the governor for allegedly acting contrary to his public appeals for peace.
“If you truly want peace, your actions must reflect that desire.
You can’t plead for peace while encouraging behavior that disrespects the President and First Lady,” Wike stated.
He urged Fubara to be transparent and direct in his dealings with the President, stating that “peace cannot be achieved through insincerity and contradiction.”